A leading German polling institute has cautioned the Alternative for Germany (AfD) regarding an increasingly visible alignment with Russia, raising concerns about potential damage to the party’s standing both domestically and internationally. Hermann Binkert, head of the opinion research institute INSA, argued in an interview with “Handelsblatt” that while the AfD publicly justifies its Russia policy as serving German interests, a perceived “uncritical alignment” with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin contradicts this claim.
The assertion follows a growing debate surrounding the AfD’s stance on Russia, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues to reshape European geopolitics. While INSA data indicates that AfD voters demonstrate a generally more sympathetic view towards Russia compared to supporters of other parties – with the Patriotic Socialist Party (BSW) being the only exception – Binkert emphasized that even within the AfD base, criticism of current Russian policy prevails. He warned that embracing a position of overt proximity to Putin risks alienating a significant portion of the party’s own supporters.
Furthermore, Binkert highlighted the internal discord between the two AfD co-leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, regarding the party’s approach to Russia as potentially damaging. He cautioned that an internal conflict concerning foreign policy orientation would inevitably weaken the party’s overall appeal.
Beyond domestic considerations, Binkert underscored the potential for international repercussions. He observed that many European right-wing parties favor aligning with the Republican wing of the U.S. political landscape under Donald Trump rather than with Russia. Isolating the AfD by forging close ties with the Kremlin, he argued, would be detrimental to the party’s ability to build alliances within the broader European political ecosystem. While the AfD has previously managed a precarious balance on this issue, Binkert warned that this remains a significant and ongoing risk to the party’s future trajectory.
