| | A power struggle within the party soon broke out, with Lucke, who wanted the party to focus on an anti-Euro policy, being opposed by Frauke Petry and her conservative, right-wing faction that emphasized law and order, immigration reductions, conservative social views, and opposition to [[Islam]].<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> In the AfD party elections of July 2015, Petry won 68 percent of the vote, becoming the new leader of the party.<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> The liberal Lucke subsequently left the party and formed his own.<ref name="BBC"/> Additionally, five of the party's seven MEP's left the party.<ref name="BBC"/> The AfD quickly adopted Petry's conservative, right-wing populist agenda, even though it still supported holding a referendum over the Eurozone.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Telegraph">Huggler, Justin (September 4, 2016). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/04/germanys-far-right-afd-unseats-angela-merkels-party-in-key-regio/ Germany's far-right AfD hands defeat to Angela Merkel's party in key regional vote]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> | | A power struggle within the party soon broke out, with Lucke, who wanted the party to focus on an anti-Euro policy, being opposed by Frauke Petry and her conservative, right-wing faction that emphasized law and order, immigration reductions, conservative social views, and opposition to [[Islam]].<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> In the AfD party elections of July 2015, Petry won 68 percent of the vote, becoming the new leader of the party.<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> The liberal Lucke subsequently left the party and formed his own.<ref name="BBC"/> Additionally, five of the party's seven MEP's left the party.<ref name="BBC"/> The AfD quickly adopted Petry's conservative, right-wing populist agenda, even though it still supported holding a referendum over the Eurozone.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Telegraph">Huggler, Justin (September 4, 2016). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/04/germanys-far-right-afd-unseats-angela-merkels-party-in-key-regio/ Germany's far-right AfD hands defeat to Angela Merkel's party in key regional vote]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> |
| | + | Under Petry's leadership, the AfD continued to grow dramatically, winning numerous seats in state parliaments.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="DW">[http://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-alternative-for-germany/a-19527050 What is the Alternative for Germany?]. ''DW''. September 5, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref><ref name="Wa.T.">Moulson, Geir (September 4, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/4/alternative-germany-party-wins-state-election/ Anger over Merkel’s Syria refugee policy drives win for Alternative for Germany party]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> The AfD formed an alliance with the [[Freedom Party of Austria]] in 2016 due to their shared Eurosceptic views.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36504307 Nationalist Austria-Germany summit held on Zugspitze summit]. ''BBC''. June 10, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> Immigration is a very large issue in the party. |
| − | Under Petry's leadership, the AfD continued to grow dramatically, winning numerous seats in state parliaments.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="DW">[http://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-alternative-for-germany/a-19527050 What is the Alternative for Germany?]. ''DW''. September 5, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref><ref name="Wa.T.">Moulson, Geir (September 4, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/4/alternative-germany-party-wins-state-election/ Anger over Merkel’s Syria refugee policy drives win for Alternative for Germany party]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> The AfD formed an alliance with the [[Freedom Party of Austria]] in 2016 due to their shared Eurosceptic views.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36504307 Nationalist Austria-Germany summit held on Zugspitze summit]. ''BBC''. June 10, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> Immigration is a very large issue in the party.
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| | While the AfD was unable to gain any seats in the German national parliament in the 2013 election, it entered the Bundestag in the 2017 election after taking a historic third place with nearly 13% of the vote, while Angela Merkel's CDU received its worst result since 1949.<ref>Multiple references: | | While the AfD was unable to gain any seats in the German national parliament in the 2013 election, it entered the Bundestag in the 2017 election after taking a historic third place with nearly 13% of the vote, while Angela Merkel's CDU received its worst result since 1949.<ref>Multiple references: |
| | *Tomlinson, Chris (September 25, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/25/merkel-scores-pyrrhic-victory-populists-beat-expectations/ Merkel’s Pyrrhic Victory: Worst Party Performance Since 1949 As Populist AfD Beat Expectations]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2017. | | *Tomlinson, Chris (September 25, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/25/merkel-scores-pyrrhic-victory-populists-beat-expectations/ Merkel’s Pyrrhic Victory: Worst Party Performance Since 1949 As Populist AfD Beat Expectations]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2017. |