The Aporia · Germany's AfD weighs shift from anti-EU roots, strategy paper shows

A strategy paper from Germany's far-right AfD suggests shifting away from its traditional anti-EU stance, advocating instead for overhauling the EU and eurozone rather than immediate withdrawal. The proposal calls for a union of sovereign nations with limited Brussels influence in domestic matters and national opt-outs on issues like migration and social policy. Produced by AfD lawmakers, the document would be reviewed at a party convention next year before any formal change to its platform is made.

Written by AI on 2026-10-05, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

In October 5, 2023, members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) proposed a significant shift in their stance against the EU and the euro. According to a strategy paper seen by Reuters, the AfD, founded in 2013 primarily in opposition to euro zone bailout policies, is now advocating for fundamental reforms within the bloc rather than an immediate withdrawal. The paper suggests transforming the EU into a "union of sovereign nations," reducing Brussels' influence over domestic policy and permitting national opt-outs on issues like migration, EU finances, and social policy. If these changes fail, the AfD would then push for a referendum on Germany's membership in the EU. This shift marks a notable departure from one of the party’s founding principles.

Written for “German Far_right Strategy Shift” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 German Far_right Strategy Shift

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The move would mark a notable change in one of the founding principles of the AfD, which was created in 2013 largely in opposition to euro zone bailout policies and has long advocated the dissolution of the currency union or Germany's exit from it.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-05

🔮 The move would mark a notable change in one of the founding principles of the AfD, which was created in 2013 largely in opposition to euro zone bailout policies and has long advocated the dissolution of the currency union or Germany's exit from it.

2026-10-05 · The Straits Times

Germany's AfD weighs shift from anti-EU roots, strategy paper shows · assertive framing

Germany's AfD weighs shift from anti-EU roots, strategy paper shows BERLIN, Oct 5 - asserted

paper → weigh → roots

Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are advocating a shift in the party's long-standing opposition to Germany's membership in the European Union and the euro, according to a strategy paper seen by Reuters on Monday. uncertain

Members → advocate → Monday

which → mark → it

The paper, first reported by Bild newspaper, advocates for a fundamental overhaul of the bloc and currency instead of an immediate withdrawal. asserted

paper → report → bloc

If those efforts failed, the party should then call for a referendum on Germany's membership, it said. asserted

it → fail → membership

It also envisages transforming the EU into a looser "union of sovereign nations", limiting Brussels' role in domestic policymaking and allowing national opt-outs in areas such as migration, EU finances and social policy. asserted

It → envisage → migration

The paper was produced by AfD lawmakers from the European Parliament, Germany's lower house of parliament and its state parliaments, and discussed at a meeting last month. asserted

paper → produce → meeting

A party convention next year would sign off on any change to its decade-old policy platform. asserted

convention → sign → platform

Peter Boehringer, the AfD's parliamentary spokesman on European affairs and a long-time critic of the euro, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. asserted

Boehringer → respond → comment

The AfD has steadily expanded its support by campaigning against migration following an influx of people fleeing war in the Middle East in 2015, a strategy that has helped it achieve a series of election successes, most recently in Saxony-Anhalt. asserted

it → expand → Anhalt

The AfD, which came second in last year's national election after Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, aims to enter the federal government by 2029. asserted

which → come → 2029

Germany's mainstream political parties refuse to cooperate with the AfD, which the domestic intelligence agency has branded as "right-wing extremist", a characterisation the party rejects. asserted

party → refuse → extremist

Party co-leader Alice Weidel described the euro as a "soft currency" in an interview with broadcaster ZDF in August but stopped short of explicitly calling for Germany to quit the currency. asserted

Germany → describe → currency

Germany's AfD weighs shift from anti-EU roots, strategy paper shows

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