AfD leader Tino Chrupalla strongly defended the party’s dual leadership against calls for its abolition. Speaking to ARD, he stated that there is no reason the party should be led by a single person. Chrupalla expressed contentment with his co-chair, Alice Weidel, saying, “We are fine,” emphasizing that the two leaders should remain at the helm of the AfD. As they prepare to stand again for the dual leadership at the upcoming party conference in Erfurt, Chrupalla pointed out that the arrangement has proven successful and functions as a division of labor. He is glad to have Weidel by his side, an appreciation he believes is mutual. Despite continuous discussions within the AfD about eliminating the two-person structure, Chrupalla considers the idea unsound, stating he cannot currently imagine leading the party alone, either by choice or necessity.
Chrupalla also addressed past instances where the party leaders publicly disagreed, citing issues such as conscription or policy toward Russia. He clarified that they are not inseparable twins obligated to speak in unison, arguing that differing opinions across various policy areas are “completely normal” within a dual leadership structure.
Meanwhile, the AfD party conference in Erfurt is being accompanied by protests. There are calls to block access to the hall and prevent the conference entirely, with the possibility of violence anticipated. While Chrupalla hopes the event remains peaceful, he views the blockades as violations of the law. Should streets be blocked, he hopes that the rule of law will respond accordingly. He criticized the Left and Green parties for attempting to prevent the conference, asserting that the right to assemble is fundamental to democracy and is mandatorily protected under party law and the Basic Law. He suggested that the need to “fight for” such basic rights reflects the “entire situation in Germany.”
The AfD is nationwide classified as a right-wing extremist suspect, and it is confirmed as such in four German states. Chrupalla disputes this assessment. He defines right-wing extremism as any action taken “with violence against the liberal-democratic basic order” or a violation of the Basic Law-a definition he does not believe applies to AfD members. He criticized the government agency’s recent counter-terrorism report, which cited 28,000 extremists within the party. Chrupalla stated that he must defend himself against allegations even without knowing the specific charges, insisting that any accused individual must be given the opportunity to defend themselves, which he deems necessary for a functioning rule of law.
