Frauke Petry, the former leader of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), is embarking on a new political venture, aiming to establish a party that will contest state elections as early as 2026. Petry, a chemist by training and one of the AfD’s original co-founders, revealed her plans in an interview, stating that she and her collaborators have already established an association named "Team Freiheit" (Team Freedom) several months ago as a preparatory step. While Petry remained tight-lipped about the new party’s name, she affirmed that its ideological foundations have been firmly established.
Petry articulated that the existing political landscape has a significant gap that her new party intends to fill. She argued that the real void isn’t between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the AfD, but rather in the absence of a truly anti-statist, libertarian political option. The party’s platform will champion a revitalization of cultural ties with the West and promote an anti-statist agenda as a positive alternative to the current political establishment, she emphasized.
A central plank of Petry’s proposed platform is a radical reduction in the "Staatsquote," the ratio of government spending to gross domestic product (GDP). She aims to slash this ratio from nearly 50 percent to 25 percent within five years. Petry asserted that no existing party genuinely pursues this goal or is truly committed to upholding freedom of speech.
Petry’s departure from the AfD in 2017 was triggered by internal conflicts and the ascendance of the party’s far-right wing, particularly the influence of Björn Höcke, the AfD leader in Thuringia. After leaving the AfD, Petry remained in the German parliament as an independent member until 2021. During this time, she founded the "Blaue Partei" (Blue Party), but it faced significant electoral defeats in Saxony and Thuringia, leading to its dissolution in late 2019.
Undeterred by past setbacks, Petry is hoping for a more successful fresh start. She announced that her new party will compete in state elections next year, starting in Baden-Württemberg. A unique aspect of her strategy is to recruit independent citizens and entrepreneurs with substantial life and professional experience as candidates, without requiring them to become party members. Petry believes this approach will effectively represent the 98 percent of the population who do not belong to any political party. This, she posits, will bridge the gap between the perceived political elite and the wider populace, offering a voice to those often overlooked by traditional party structures.
The new party’s focus on reducing the Staatsquote to 25 percent within five years is an ambitious and potentially controversial policy proposal. Such a drastic reduction in government spending would necessitate deep cuts across various sectors, including social welfare programs, infrastructure projects, education, and healthcare. The impact on the economy and society would be significant and would likely spark intense debate about the role of government and the appropriate level of public services.
Petry’s emphasis on "Erneuerung der kulturellen Westbindung" (renewal of cultural ties with the West) suggests a desire to re-establish closer relationships with Western democracies and to promote Western values and traditions. This could be interpreted as a reaction against what she perceives as a decline in Western influence and a shift towards other cultural and political models. It is likely that her party will advocate for policies that strengthen ties with countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and promote cultural exchange and cooperation.
The success of Petry’s new party hinges on several factors, including its ability to attract qualified and credible candidates, its effectiveness in communicating its message to voters, and its capacity to raise sufficient funds to support its electoral campaigns. It will also depend on the broader political climate and the willingness of voters to embrace a new political alternative.
Petry’s previous experience with the AfD and the Blaue Partei provides valuable lessons that she can draw upon in her new endeavor. She is likely to be acutely aware of the challenges of building and maintaining a successful political party, and she will need to carefully manage internal dynamics and avoid the pitfalls that led to the demise of her previous ventures. Her stated aim to recruit non-party members as candidates could be a double-edged sword. While it could attract fresh perspectives and broaden the party’s appeal, it could also create challenges in terms of party discipline and cohesion.
The German political landscape is already crowded with a variety of parties, ranging from the established mainstream parties to newer, more specialized ones. To succeed, Petry’s new party will need to differentiate itself from the competition and offer a compelling vision that resonates with voters. Her focus on anti-statism and freedom of speech could appeal to a segment of the electorate that feels underserved by the existing parties, but it remains to be seen whether she can translate this potential support into actual votes.
The upcoming state elections in Baden-Württemberg will be a crucial test for Petry’s new party. A strong showing in this election would provide momentum and credibility, while a poor performance could derail her plans and undermine her future prospects. The next few years will be critical in determining whether Frauke Petry can successfully re-enter the German political arena and establish a lasting presence for her new political movement. The German public will be closely watching to see if her anti-establishment message resonates and if she can assemble a team capable of executing her ambitious political vision.
