AfD Democracy Congress: Trapped in its own echo chamber

The AfD party convened a congress in Berlin, focusing on the themes of freedom of speech and democracy. Held at the Paul-Löbe-Haus, the event featured speakers who align with the party's political perspectives, aiming to bolster its platform with what it considers scholarly support.

Among the notable speakers were figures like Roger Köppel, editor-in-chief of Swiss publication Weltwoche, and Hans-Georg Maaßen, former head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The AfD frequently promotes the narrative that the state is continuously restricting freedom of speech, thereby undermining democracy. To support this argument, the party invited media researchers, jurists, journalists, political scientists, and politicians who are generally favorable to its viewpoints.

Approximately 300 guests attended the congress, which also featured addresses from Václav Klaus, former Prime Minister and President of the Czech Republic, and Tomio Okamura, leader of the SPD, a partner party to the AfD in the Czech Republic. The event underscored the AfD's focus on issues related to free expression and democratic principles as central to its political agenda.