Download Political Guidelines of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) After

Political Guidelines
of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)
After World War II the Federal Republic of Germany experienced an extremely successful
phase of political, economic and social development. The reason was the harmonious
interaction, implied by the Basic Law, of democracy, the rule of law, the separation of
powers, subsidiarity, and a social market economy.
Since the beginning of this century, in many political realms we have been detecting adverse
trends in these areas, which are indispensable for the freedom and welfare of our society.
This has been particularly evident in the euro crisis. The new political party Alternative für
Deutschland was founded as a reaction of many concerned and responsible-minded citizens
to the failure of the political leadership in the euro crisis and in dealing with political problems.
This is particularly true of the energy, labour market, family and immigration policies. This
failure was accompanied by a renunciation of the ethical foundations that are constitutive for
a free and democratic constitutional order. There is also a prevailing impression that there is
a connection between this failure of the political establishment and the increasing
obstructions blocking the processes of open discussion (“political correctness”).
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Democracy has suffered harm in the euro crisis because in the European Stability
Mechanism an enormous European institution has been created which can put
financial burdens and liability risks amounting to hundreds of billions of euros on the
participating states without the parliaments of these states being able to exercise any
control. The governing and decision-making organs of the ESM are run by office
holders who have been exempted from any type of civil liability or criminal
responsibility. It is thus a case of executing state functions without there being any
accountability to democratically legitimized decision making bodies.
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The rule of law has suffered harm in the euro crisis because the governments of the
euro zone have broken the terms of the Maastricht Treaty and the European Central
Bank has violated the prohibition of monetary state financing. This continued
contempt for prevailing law — without any consequences for the parties responsible
— increasingly destroys the trust of citizens in the European Union and in national
governments.
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The separation of powers has suffered harm in the euro crisis because most
members of the German Bundestag allowed themselves to be put under time and
decision-making pressure by the federal government and renounced the right of
parliament to carefully examine the obligations in store for Germany. In the euro crisis
the principle of the separation of powers has suffered harm because the Federal
Constitutional Court did not denounce obvious legal violations perpetrated by the
federal government, and rather avoided making the necessary judgments, or even
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appealed to the European Court of Justice for the first time, in order to avoid making
the decision itself.
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The euro crisis has revealed that the current division of responsibilities between the
EU and the national states is not viable. The overriding principle must be that only
those decisions are to be assigned to the EU for which no workable results can be
achieved at the national level (subsidiarity).
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The social market economy has suffered harm in the euro crisis because it is unsocial
to financially harm the population, especially persons with savings and taxpayers,
making them liable for the risks of irresponsibly managed states and banks. This
destroys the connection between responsibility and liability, which is constitutive for a
market economy. The interventions of the European Central Bank seriously impair the
effectiveness of the instrument for control and risk assessment in a free market,
namely, interest rates.
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In addition, in the euro crisis the European idea has suffered harm in a significant
way. The AfD professes its unqualified commitment to a European Union that does
justice to the Enlightenment and the striving of nations for human rights and
democracy and that enduringly preserves the fundamental values of the Christian
West. In order to give Europe a beneficial future again, the AfD speaks up for a
European Union based on subsidiarity instead of centralism, and on competition
instead of enforced conformity and harmonization.
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The euro crisis has shown that the introduction of the euro was a decision
economically and politically contrary to reason. It has long been evident that the
single-currency euro destroys Europe’s foundation. It generates strife and resurrects
national prejudices. Welfare and peace among the member states in the euro zone
are endangered. A euro that fuels discord in Europe and impoverishes the population
in economically weaker member states has no place in Europe.
The Alternative für Deutschland wants to preserve, and where necessary restore,
democracy, the rule of law, the separation of powers, subsidiarity and a social market
economy, as well as freedom. It also wants to bring back into force other elementary
principles violated by the government in the euro crisis, in particular the principle of
responsibility, the principle of solidarity, the principle of transparency and the
principle of sustainability.
1. As a party that believes in the rule of law, we are committed to upholding basic rights. The
AfD will always work to ensure that the basic rights, enumerated in the Basic Law, are
equally respected with regard to all citizens without restriction, whether they are members of
the majority population or of social minorities.
The AfD strives for equality of the sexes and works to end existing handicaps. However, the
AfD rejects gender-related quotas connected with employment as well as policies aimed at
abolishing sexual identity. Aptitude, ability and achievements must be the only factors taken
into consideration. The AfD believes in equal opportunity, not equal results.
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2. Citizens can only perceive the state as bound by the rule of law if the laws and
administration of justice within the national and international legal framework are transparent
and comprehensible to them. Breaches of law and perversion of justice must not be
facilitated by ambiguous wordings. Existing laws must be enforced. The AfD will always strive
for regulations that are clear, simple and easy for everyone to understand.
The AfD will oppose the frequently over-bureaucratic patronizing attitude toward citizens
reflected in an endless number of laws and regulations. Numerous bodies of law are in
urgent need of reform because they have become incomprehensible and inscrutable. These
include, for example, all tax legislation, pension, social and labour laws, health insurance,
asylum and immigration laws.
3. As we support our constitutional state, we resolutely reject any attempt within our legal
system to establish parallel legal systems that contradict valid laws in Germany. Crime may
neither be tolerated nor belittled, but must be combatted. World views or religious convictions
must not play a role in criminal prosecution and sentencing. Police and judicial departments
must be adequately equipped and staffed.
Out of respect for basic rights, the AfD advocates the comprehensive protection of privacy
and the citizens’ right of informational self-determination. In an age of global interconnectivity
both are indispensable components of any responsible public policy. We need laws giving
protection from extensive spying on citizens by state authorities and businesses. Everyone
has a right to be free of surveillance within the limits of the law.
4. As a party upholding democracy we reject the transfer of responsibility for important
decisions that should be made democratically to committees with inadequate democratic
legitimacy. Such deficits are obvious at the EU level. But also at federal, state and local
levels attention must be paid to assuring that all important decisions are made the
responsibility of a parliament. They may not be made by state-owned companies, specialinterest associations or housing associations that have almost entirely removed themselves
from democratic control.
5. We hold freedom of opinion and speech — within the limits of a free and democratic
constitutional order — and accordingly a culture of open debate to be one of the most
important public goods. We vigorously object to the increasingly widespread inclination of
self-appointed guardians of public morals to intimidate dissenters or exclude them from the
social discourse. The AfD will work to ensure that freedom of expression also includes the
right to criticize religion. We will work to ensure that positions that differ from the opinions
promoted by the established political parties also be adequately represented in the media.
The freedom of the media should never be limited.
6. Since we take democracy seriously, we favour direct democracy. We therefore advocate
that popular referendums and initiatives on the Swiss model be introduced in Germany and
Europe. It must be possible for the citizens to directly decide about important issues. This is
especially the case if important sovereign rights are to be given up.
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In matters of foreign policy or security policy Germany‘s freedom of decision and action may
not be limited without the express consent of the people. We emphatically reject any handing
over of sovereign rights unbacked by a referendum. The Basic Law emphasizes that the task
of the armed forces is national defence. The AfD is of the opinion that the German armed
forces are to be deployed in the spirit of the Basic Law.
The AfD takes a stand in favour of “Germany’s Western alignment”. Membership in NATO
guarantees our freedom in the area of security policy and gives us the possibility to
safeguard our foreign policy interests. We respect existing international treaties and will carry
out agreed Alliance obligations within the framework of the national defence mandate
specified in the Basic Law.
7. Since we take seriously the separation of powers, individuals should not have
responsibilities in more than one of the three branches of government; any overlapping is to
be reduced to the extent possible. This means that members of the legislative branch
(members of parliament) may not simultaneously be members of the supreme executive
organs (the administration). The independence of the judicial branch must likewise be
assured. This also applies to the judges of the higher federal courts, who are to be appointed
by electoral committees. Leading positions for judges in all other courts are to be selected by
electoral committees from among the judiciary instead of by representatives of the executive
branch.
8. The AfD is convinced of the validity of the principle of subsidiarity and unambiguously
rejects the innumerable attempts of the EU Commission to regulate the daily life of citizens.
This is similarly true for the relationship of the national to the state level in Germany.
Decisions which impose a financial burden on a lower level are disallowed unless the
necessary financial resources are simultaneously provided.
In any event, appropriate participation of the lower levels is to be ensured and it must be
guaranteed that those affected are informed in time about planned projects and about how
they can participate. There must be a guaranteed opportunity to express a will or to have a
share in decisions, including popular referendums.
9. We are committed to a social market economy in the sense of Ludwig Erhard, as it is best
suited to create and safeguard prosperity. We believe in the maintenance of social harmony
and the preservation of communal solidarity. The state must create the general preconditions
which permit its citizens to freely realize their potentials and to lead an independent life. This
includes people who are unable to earn an adequate livelihood by themselves.
If market forces fail, all government measures are to be conceived according to the principle
of achieving the greatest impact by the least intervention.
In all cases where natural monopolies hinder market forces, there must be a state regulating
authority, or else the state is to be preferred over a private monopoly. At any rate,
unnecessary burdens on taxpayers are to be avoided.
10. Our commitment to a social market economy means furthermore that state services can
also be supplied by private companies as long as strict regulation assures that they are
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provided in at least the same quality, quantity and with the same social responsibility as by
the public sector. Sovereign responsibilities and responsibilities to provide public utilities —
for example water supply and distribution — are to be an exception.
11. It follows from our commitment to a social market economy that those responsible for
mismanagement in the financial sector are to be held personally liable and punished if they
break the law. Causing uninvolved citizens who are savers or taxpayers to take responsibility
for the risks taken is unfair.
We equally disapprove of an ‘energy turnaround’ that is implemented along the lines of a
centrally planned economy, and whose immense costs have to be equally borne by all
households — regardless of their economic situation. Out of a commitment to social
responsibility in a market economy the AfD rejects any subsidizing of energy production —
other than start-up capital for new and promising technologies. We reject the German
Renewable Energy Act (EEG) as a permanent subsidy system. Energy production has to
prove itself on the marketplace, guarantee security of supply, be environmentally responsible
and affordable, and not hinder the economic development of Germany.
12. In a social market economy, investments, production and trade require a reliable
regulatory framework. Its major components are monetary stability, the principle of
responsibility for the benefits and harm caused by one’s own actions, and a functioning
pricing mechanism.
In a social market economy, the concentration of economic power must be effectively limited,
whereby the protection and fostering of open, competitive markets is preferable to state
intervention. Small and medium-size businesses are a cornerstone of our social market
economy and we advocate that they be strengthened.
In a social market economy the state has the responsibility to provide a legal basis assuring
that owners and executive personnel of companies can meet their social responsibility for
their employees. People are at the centre of our policies. Companies must be prevented from
abusing their position by paying wages that are so low that the state has to supplement them
to make their income reach the subsistence level.
We aim for new, simple, fair tax laws that make tax evasion and fraud as unattractive and
difficult as possible. Toward this end, the numerous tax exemptions must be eliminated, as
already proposed in the Kirchhof flat-tax model. If there are fewer exceptions, overall income
tax rates can be reduced to the benefit of all. A new approach is also required on the
expense side. The widely prevailing wasting of tax money by government officials must
finally be countered with dissuasive sanctions such as fines or even imprisonment.
13. Since we are serious about financial sustainability, we believe that state indebtedness at
national, state and local levels is only permissible if it can be borne in the long term. Any
indebtedness not incurred for the purpose of producing economic goods that can be used
long term (such as infrastructure) always represents a shifting of financial burdens onto
subsequent generations in order to achieve present financial advantages. In view of the
demographic situation in Germany, which will put the existing public debt on the shoulders of
ever fewer citizens in the future, a fiscal policy can only be sustainable if it reduces the
existing excessive state debt.
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14. It is not only for reasons of sustainability that we are worried about the negative
population development in our country. For the Alternative für Deutschland family policies
supportive of children and parents; encouraging the compatibility of raising children, having a
social life and a job; and increasing support for families with children are therefore of decisive
importance. The Alternative für Deutschland wants to encourage young people to establish
families and it supports family- and child-friendly legislation.
The AfD wants parent- and child-friendly policies that support people with families as much
as possible — regardless of how they structure their private lives. As regards family policy,
the marriage between a man and a woman is desirable.
Since we are serious about demographic sustainability, we favour the immigration to
Germany of those who are willing and able to integrate themselves into our society.
15. As we believe in the rule of law, immigration policy must be legally structured according
to clear criteria, for example along the lines of those prevailing in Australia and Canada.
Knowledge of the language, education, vocational skills and the requirements of the German
job market are to be the deciding factors. The AfD firmly rejects immigration into the German
social systems — also from EU member countries.
Victims of political persecution are to be granted asylum in the spirit of the Basic Law. As
guests of the country they are to be treated with dignity and accepted as fellow human
beings, which includes giving them the right to earn their own living and the possibility to
participate in social life. For reasons of humanity we have an obligation to help war refugees,
either here or in other safe locations, with lodgings and the necessary livelihood.
16. Our cultural, scientific and technical knowledge must be understood as Germany’s most
important asset for the future and be made available to future generations. Starting with the
responsibility of parents for the personal development of their children, we support a
differentiated, flexible school system which does justice to the entire spectrum of student
abilities while abiding by the principle of performance-related achievement.
The universities are to be freed of bureaucracy and regulation. They should themselves be
allowed to decide such matters as the selection of qualified students and the specifics of
teaching and examinations. Therefore, in addition to offering the newly instituted bachelors’
and masters’ curricula, universities must accordingly also be allowed to return to the welltested diploma, state examination and masters’ study courses.
The dual training approach, a combination of schoolwork and on-the-job experience, is a
successful model responsible for a relatively low level of youth unemployment. Retaining this
practice is an AfD goal.
17. Since we want to implement sustainability, protection of the environment and of
endangered species as well as conservation of the countryside are important concerns of the
Alternative für Deutschland. Protecting endangered species also includes the preservation of
livestock breeds and crop varieties. The use of genetically modified seeds and the production
of human food and animal feed from genetically modified plants and animals are to be strictly
controlled or forbidden.
Environmental protection includes both avoiding harmful emissions and preserving the
natural habitats of animals and plants. Environmental protection can be manifested in
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building laws, for example by giving priority to redeveloping inner city districts in order to put
a stop to further ground sealing caused by zoning entirely new areas for development.
18. Respect for all of creation calls for the dignified and compassionate treatment of animals.
Especially in a time of industrialized animal husbandry on a massive scale attention must be
paid to animal welfare, to transporting and to slaughtering animals in ways appropriate to the
species. People should never lose their respect for their fellow creatures.
19. Human dignity as protected in the Basic Law also means making it possible for people to
spend their free time with family and friends, engage in sport, enjoy nature, or follow private
interests. The requirements set by economic life must have limits, since people do not live by
bread alone. Also for this reason, it is important to support club life, the arts and the
preservation of nature.
20. As we are committed to the principle of solidarity we will not neglect people in need. The
increasing number of socially needy people must be able to rely on help from society,
particularly because many of them have made this help possible through their own
contributions. In the same way, those receiving subsidies from the state must show solidarity
in order to keep the burdens on the community as low as possible and, if they are able, make
an effort to free themselves from their economic plight through their own efforts and
cooperation.
Human dignity calls for a life with freedom, justice, and social responsibility. This is
expressed by respect for the diversity among people, by their having equal rights as
male and female, and by a child-friendly society. Therefore, the AfD will work to
promote the rule of law, democracy, the separation of powers, solidarity, subsidiarity
and a social market economy on the foundation of the Basic Law.
These political guidelines were drawn up in a process involving the comprehensive participation of party
members:
- by providing a first draft by the management board (Bundesvorstand) at a national party convention taking place
on 22 and 23 March 2014 in Erfurt
- by commissioning at that convention an operational team to supervise and support the process of editing the
guidelines
- by sending the draft on 25 March 2014 to all party members with a request for their comments
- by evaluating the 1,570 suggestions that were received by 2 April
- by a survey of all members conducted between 14 and 20 April on their opinion of alternative text formulations,
in which 2,772 members participated
- after a management board discussion on 23 April of the results of the member survey
- with copy editing of the results of the member survey and the decisions of the management board
- and by a vote of the membership between 28 April and 1 May 2014 in which 3,297 members participated. The
result was endorsed by 92.6%.
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