Berlin AfD nominates first candidate for Governing Mayor

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Berlin is demonstrating renewed confidence ahead of the September elections for the House of Representatives by nominating Kristin Brinker as its candidate for Governing Mayor. This move signifies the party's ambition to challenge for a leading role in the city's governance.

Brinker, who also leads the AfD's parliamentary group in Berlin, was symbolically chosen through a show of hands at a party convention held in Brandenburg an der Havel. While the AfD currently holds the fifth-largest faction in the Berlin parliament, recent opinion polls indicate a surge in their support, placing them second only to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

“

A new beginning is only possible with our party.

Despite their rising popularity, a governing coalition with the AfD remains unlikely, as other major parties have consistently ruled out cooperation. During her nomination speech, Brinker portrayed Berlin as a city in decline, citing issues with public transport, deteriorating public buildings, and infrastructure. She also highlighted concerns about perceived "hatred and violence" in public spaces, housing shortages, and the costs associated with refugees, attributing these problems to the incumbent mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU).

Brinker asserted that only her party could bring about a necessary "new beginning" for Berlin. The AfD's platform includes a call for a moratorium on asylum seekers and a policy of "remigration," encompassing both the deportation of individuals without the right to remain and voluntary return programs. They also propose transforming the state immigration office into a "State Office for Immigration, Asylum, and Remigration" with a clear focus on returns. Furthermore, the party advocates for displaying the German flag in all Berlin schools, enforcing German as the primary language of instruction, and banning gender-neutral language in educational settings. They also suggest implementing "time-out rooms" for disruptive students.

“

The AfD pursues a comprehensive policy of remigration, which includes both the return of those obliged to leave and voluntary return programs.