New accusation

Report: Kremlin allegedly planned AfD strategy

According to a media report, the Kremlin has been working on a paper that paints a bleak picture of Germany. The positions of the AfD would be similar to those formulated in the paper, "Der Spiegel" reported on Friday. "The same is not the same," was all the party said.

According to the report, a Kremlin department head was commissioned in September 2022 to "develop a new concept for the Alternative for Germany party". The aim is to increase poll ratings and achieve a majority in elections at all levels. An unnamed Western intelligence agency is cited as the source.

"Uneducated politicians"
The paper talks about deindustrialization and the exodus of large companies from Germany. The German economy is already dying, it says. "Uneducated politicians who are unable to calculate the consequences of their decisions have dragged Germany into a conflict with Russia, a natural ally of our country and our people," it continues.

Uneducated politicians who are incapable of calculating the consequences of their decisions have dragged Germany into a conflict with Russia.

Das soll in einem Papier des Kreml stehen.

The "traffic light" government is to be described as a "government of failures" that has undone the efforts of great predecessors such as Willy Brandt and Helmut Kohl. A German politician should not have values, ideals and obligations "that take precedence over Germany's interests and obligations to the German people".

Party calls for "interest-driven politics"
In terms of content, the wording is actually similar to what the AfD is also calling for, for example a policy guided by interests rather than values. The party also accuses politicians of the traffic light of incompetence and repeatedly speaks of deindustrialization.

When asked, the Alternative for Germany stated that it was not aware of the alleged paper. AfD leader Tino Chrupalla described the report as a "robber's tale." "The same is not the same," said Thuringia's AfD leader Björn Höcke about the similarities.

Losing approval
According to the ZDF political barometer, the AfD is currently losing support. If European elections were held next Sunday, 15 percent would vote for the party. In the past few days, four people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, including an employee of top candidate Maximilian Krah. He is alleged to have passed on information from the EU Parliament to China and is now in custody (see video above).

There are also alleged links to pro-Russian networks and Krah is accused of having received funds from Russia. The leading candidate will now not take part in his party's kick-off election event on Saturday as planned. There will also be no videos with him.