Alternative for Germany
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a conservative, right-wing German political party.
History
The AfD was founded in 2013 by economics professor Bernd Lucke.[1] Although the party was relatively conservative and Eurosceptic (it mainly opposed the Eurozone[2]), it was a neo-liberal party that attracted middle class opponents of the Eurozone.[1] The party made several gains during this time, with seven AfD members being elected to the European Parliament in 2014.[2]
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, conservative social views, and Islam.[1]
In the AfD party elections of July 2015, Petry won 68 percent of the vote, becoming the new leader of the party.[1] The liberal Lucke subsequently left the party and formed his own.[2] Additionally, five of the party's seven MEP's left the party.[2] The AfD quickly adopted Petry's conservative, right-wing populist agenda, even though it still supported holding a referendum over the Eurozone.[2][3]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Zeronian, Sarkis (July 5, 2016). ‘Germany’s Farage’ Becomes Leader Of Eurosceptic Alternative For Germany Party. Breitbart. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 What does Alternative for Germany (AfD) want?. BBC. September 5, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ Huggler, Justin (September 4, 2016). Germany's far-right AfD hands defeat to Angela Merkel's party in key regional vote. The Telegraph. Retrieved December 31, 2016.