Thuringian Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) has warned the leadership of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) against engaging in discussions with Russia about potentially recommencing gas deliveries. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, Maier stated that the party’s proposed actions would constitute a breach of the Basic Law. He stressed that as an opposition party, the AfD is not authorized to negotiate international treaties; this power exclusively belongs to the Federal Government.
Maier also linked the AfD’s Russian plans to the party’s recent success in local elections. The SPD politician suggested that the AfD seemed to be discarding all pretense, riding high on the momentum of its victories. He harshly criticized the party, accusing it of despising liberal democracy and engaging in “illegal deals with the dictator in the Kremlin.”
In related news, AfD leader Alice Weidel had recently announced during a federal press conference that they intended to open a communication channel with the Russian side, in collaboration with the United States. Media reports indicate that the AfD leadership, alongside Kirill Dmitriyev, a close economic advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, are preparing a meeting for Spring 2027. Key topics for this meeting are expected to include the possibility of resuming Russian gas shipments to Germany.
Given the prospective talks, Maier reiterated his demand for a formal banning procedure against the AfD. He contends that the party is acting “ever more obviously as a helpful operative for Putin, seeking to destabilize Germany and Europe.” He concluded by stating that it is “high time to initiate the ban proceedings against the AfD.”
