France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, surprised many by calling early elections, a move that unsettled not only the French but also the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The party had scheduled a federal congress meant to showcase itself as the country’s second political force and to push toward victory anticipated in September’s regional elections in the eastern states. In elections to the European Parliament, it earned nearly 16 percent of the vote, a touch below earlier expectations, yet it rose to the second spot, trailing only behind the conservative bloc. This marked a milestone for a party routinely excluded by the two large European far-right families: the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which includes Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Spain’s Vox, and Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS), as well as Identity and Democracy (ID), the bloc led by France’s Marine Le Pen.
The congress opening this Saturday in Essen, in western Germany, cast a shadow over the AfD’s plans, now framed by developments in France and the formation of the new European Parliament. The party’s chair, Alice Weidel, suggested in several interviews that they are seeking “new allies,” given a public, personal rift with Le Pen. She did not rule out rejoining ID if Le Pen lifts her veto, or letting Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian ultranationalist, open the door to a fresh, as yet undefined group.
One of the central topics for the 600 delegates over the two days was how to formalize the exit from ID. The future grouping in the European Parliament remained uncertain. A leak in the weekly Der Spiegel claimed that Weidel was seeking partners for a third group in the Parliament, to be called “The Sober-Thinkers” and potentially including Alvise Pérez’s “The End of the Party.”
Weidel avoided naming specific foreign nationalists as partners, citing general disagreements that would not be aligned with AfD interests. The supposedly scheduled meeting last Thursday to formalize the new group did not take place. Nevertheless, there were indications of outreach among various parties or potential allies, according to Politico, a media platform owned by Springer’s group.
Protests and football collide with the gathering. For the 600 delegates expected in Essen, organisers list around twenty demonstrations and protest events that they say could draw up to 45,000 participants. Police have prepared the largest security operation ever seen in the city. Adding to the risk landscape, Dortmund, another nearby city, hosts the Euro 2024 round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark, drawing tens of thousands of fans toward North Rhine-Westphalia, a football stronghold of the country.
Weidel aims to secure another term alongside her co-president, Tino Chrupalla. The party’s former European elections head, Maximilian Krah, who later became a pariah within the AfD after publicly defending the Nazi SS from an Italian outlet, is not invited as a delegate. Reports suggest this was the final straw for Marine Le Pen, prompting the AfD leadership to drop him from their europarliamentary slate.
Regarding Krah and the AfD’s second candidate on the European list, Petr Bystron, suspicions have been raised that they may be serving both Moscow and Beijing. A new police search took place at Bystron’s home on Thursday as investigators probe alleged bribes connected to Russia.
In Essen, the turn of events will likely set the tone for the AfD’s europarliamentary strategy, including debates on alliances, group formation, and the party’s response to internal scandals and external pressures. Cited sources track the fluid nature of European far-right collaborations, noting how internal expulsions and public spats influence the balance of power inside and across national movements. Cited: Politico.
Observers emphasize that the AfD’s ability to reshape its international links could determine its role in the next European assembly, especially as new groups emerge and as other nationalist movements weigh their positions. The party’s leadership remains watchful of how France’s political shifts might affect their own prospects, and how potential partners could align with their platform on issues ranging from national sovereignty to immigration and social policy. Cited: Der Spiegel.
The Essen congress unfolds amid a broader European debate about unity on the right, the limits of collaboration with parties that carry extremist reputations, and the impact of internal discipline on public credibility. For the AfD, the question is not only about who they align with, but how they present themselves to voters in Germany and across Europe in a landscape marked by volatility and rapid strategic recalibration. Cited: Le Monde.
The upcoming events in Essen will reveal how the AfD intends to navigate this moment: whether they will pursue a broader, more inclusive right-wing coalition or double down on a more radical stance that risks isolating them from other mainstream conservative groups. The answers chosen by Weidel and her colleagues will likely shape Europe’s political architecture in the months ahead and influence how national elections in Germany and neighboring states are viewed by voters elsewhere. Cited: Politico.