Youth of the Alternative for Germany Party: A training ground for the far right in Germany
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is preparing to launch a new youth organization called "Generation Germany," aimed at training future party leaders. Experts warn that it could be as extremist as its predecessor, which German authorities previously declared to be far-right extremist.
The representative from Brandenburg, Jan-Pascal Hom, 28 years old, will lead the new group. Hom sees the youth organization as a "training ground" for elected officials and potential government members, emphasizing its role in paving the way for the rise of the AfD party to power.
The AfD party has gained strong support in East Germany, with polls in Saxony-Anhalt showing the party at 40%, which could allow it to form a government without coalition partners after next year's elections. The party has dissolved its former youth wing, Junge Alternative (JU), due to repeated scandals related to extremism and security concerns.
JU has been classified as a far-right organization, linked to anti-constitutional movements such as the Identitarian Movement and some suspected far-right terrorist groups. German authorities have pointed to the organization's repeated violations of constitutional principles, particularly campaigns against Muslims and migrants.
The new youth organization is a strategic step: it will benefit from party funding and professional support for campaigns on social media and political activities. Critics question its sustainability in extremist links, as Home himself has a history of engaging with right-wing groups, and the Brandenburg branch of the AfD party is considered one of the most extremist branches in Germany.
The organization's platform focuses on "re-migration," a euphemism for mass deportation, while Home insists that the group's policies are based on Germany's Basic Law, leaving observers to wonder whether this reflects a genuine commitment or mere formal compliance.