The core of the strategy is: The AfD should Create meeting places. Instead of “sterile offices,” the party should build “multifunctional centers” in former village pubs, restaurants and discos, according to the strategy paper. During the day, the focus will be on citizens’ concerns and in the evenings, politics will be discussed over beer, wine and bratwurst.

AfD wants to appear more likeable with a glass of Aperol

The goal: The party that is considered right-wing extremist in several federal statesshould have a “likeable and positive image”. According to the strategy paper, they want to revitalize rural areas that the other parties have “abandoned”.

To this end, a broad program will be offered in the new AfD centers. The paper speaks of Aperol evenings for young people, senior meetings, lectures and book launches. According to the paper, the formal party office structure was off-putting – it required too high a “degree of commitment” to the party. This should now be eliminated when you have a beer in the pub.

AfD village strategy: commuter allowance, CO2 tax, fuel prices

Of course, the plan is also about politics. The party’s frontline organizations should be involved in the events and prominent representatives should be invited. The paper even plans the specific topics at the regulars’ table in advance. Party representatives should primarily talk about what citizens feel directly in their wallets: commuter allowance, CO2 tax, fuel prices.

The deeper goal of the strategy is probably the AfD to become an institution in the long term. Not just as a party in parliament, but also right on our doorstep. Especially in structurally weak regions, it could become a contact point for all kinds of concerns – and thus place its extreme messages even more effectively.

The party already has a timetable for this expansion: in Rhineland-Palatinate, every constituency should have an AfD center by 2029. An expansion to the whole of Germany is also possible following the success in the state elections.