Alleged Russian Influence on AfD’s Formulation: Spiegel Report Sheds Light on Kremlin Strategy for German Elections

A report published by Spiegel claims that the concept for the AfD party was formulated by Russian strategists. According to the report, in September 2022, a department head met with Sergey Kiriyenko, the deputy head of the Kremlin administration, and was tasked with developing a new strategy for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The goal was to increase poll numbers and achieve a majority in all elections.

However, AfD Chief Tino Chrupalla dismissed the report as unfounded and stated that he had no knowledge of any alleged document developed by Russia. The document is said to have painted a negative picture of Germany, including deindustrialization, migration of companies, and a failing German economy. It also criticized the current traffic light government while praising past leaders like Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt, and Helmut Kohl.

The content of the document aligns with some AfD politicians’ views, advocating for an interest-driven policy rather than one based on values. The report highlights similarities between the alleged Kremlin paper and the AfD’s stance on issues like deindustrialization, competence of politicians, and relationship with Russia. While some members denied knowledge of the alleged paper, others saw similarities in messaging.