The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party formally launched its new youth organization, “Generation Deutschland” (Generation Germany), amidst significant protests in Gießen this weekend. The launch marks a concerted effort by the AfD to regain control over its youth wing, a move critics are already condemning as a tightening of ideological grip and a potential vehicle for radicalization.
The organization’s founding congress saw over 800 participants endorse a youth statute designed to firmly integrate “Generation Deutschland” within the AfD’s structure, a stark contrast to its predecessor, “Junge Alternative” (Young Alternative). “Junge Alternative” dissolved earlier this year following a formal separation from the AfD, largely due to concerns over the group’s autonomy and the limited influence the party wielded over its members. Furthermore, the Verfassungsschutz (Germany’s domestic intelligence agency) had classified “Junge Alternative” as right-wing extremist, raising the specter of a potential ban.
Membership in “Generation Deutschland” is largely restricted to existing AfD members, underscoring the party’s desire for complete alignment. A strict code of conduct is in place, with sanctions ranging from reprimands to expulsion from the AfD for violations or inappropriate behavior – a move widely interpreted as a means of suppressing dissent and enforcing ideological conformity. The organization is ostensibly open to all AfD members under the age of 36.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, framed “Generation Deutschland” as a “talent factory” or “Kaderschmiede” for the party, specifically in anticipation of upcoming state elections. This characterization highlights the calculated strategic significance of the new youth organization, which is being positioned to cultivate future leaders and bolster the AfD’s electoral prospects.
Political analysts warn that the tightly controlled nature of “Generation Deutschland” risks further marginalizing the party and reinforcing concerns about its increasingly extremist leanings. The near-exclusive restriction to existing AfD members, coupled with the stringent disciplinary measures, raise questions about the organization’s ability to attract genuinely diverse perspectives and foster constructive debate within the party’s younger ranks. Critics fear the group will serve primarily to propagate the AfD’s core ideology and intensify its polarizing rhetoric. The success of “Generation Deutschland” and its potential impact on German politics, will be closely monitored.
