LONDON — Nigel Farage, the prominent British politician, has characterized the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a ‘mixed bag’ while he prepares for key elections in the UK next Thursday. In a candid conversation with Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner during his podcast series MD Meets, Farage shared his nuanced perspective on the party’s cultural and political dynamics.
Cultural stance versus geopolitical ties
Farage noted that the AfD holds an ‘utterly respectable and decent’ cultural position, but he expressed concern over its associations with authoritarian figures, particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin. ‘I find it hard to understand’ the AfD’s pro-Putin sentiment, he stated, emphasizing that the party’s connections to dictators are ‘very, very difficult’ to reconcile.
Amidst rising influence, centrist German politicians have accused the AfD of serving as a conduit for Putin’s interests within Germany, a claim the party vehemently denies. Notably, several AfD members traveled to Sochi, Russia, last November to participate in a summit focused on cooperation between Europe and the BRICS nations, which include Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa.
Confusion over economic policies
Farage also expressed uncertainty regarding the AfD’s economic policies, questioning whether the party favors joining the euro or restoring the Deutschmark. ‘All of it I’ve found a little bit unclear,’ he admitted. Despite these uncertainties, he acknowledged that the party is diverse in its perspectives.
Reflecting on his experiences in the European Parliament, where he led the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group prior to Brexit in 2020, Farage commented, ‘AfD members have sat under my leadership, some of them I found fine to work with, some of them are still friends.’ He further elaborated on the AfD’s cultural narrative, stating, ‘What they do represent is a cultural position that says: “We’re German. We’re not ashamed of it. We don’t want this culture to be radically changed by those that come in and want to impose their culture upon us.”’
“That’s the emotional part that I fully, fully understand that has been demonized in Germany, as it is in this country as well, and yet actually is an utterly respectable and decent position,” Farage added.