The AfD is coming under pressure on several fronts: In addition to allegations around Corruption and nepotism Foreign policy also causes friction. Especially when War against Iran differences become visible. While the foreign policy spokesman Markus Frohnmaier Most recently publicly praised US President Donald Trump, party leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel criticized sharply.

At “Markus Lanz” the ZDF presenter took this as an opportunity to analyze the party’s foreign policy line – and possible breaking points – in more detail. Lanz therefore asked Chrupalla directly: “The attack, the killing of Khamenei, where do you stand there?” The AfD leader replied that he thought it was “difficult (…) when you kill a head of state – regardless of whether you think he is good or bad – (…) in this way.”

For Chrupalla, this is a “war that violates international law” and in which he cannot see any strategy. He followed up: “Do you want to create regime change? I just don’t see that.” When Lanz asked what approach he would have preferred instead, Chrupalla explained that “this reshuffle of governments (…) had to come from the Iranian people themselves.” Then Lanz pointed out: “Are these war crimes that the Israelis (…) and the Americans are committing?” The AfD politician nodded and said with a serious look: “If you hit a girls’ school, it’s a war crime – clearly.”

Lanz to Chrupalla: “You have to have a position”

In this context, Lanz wanted to know whether this assessment was shared within the party. However, Chrupalla remained evasive: “I cannot judge or evaluate whether everyone in our party sees it that way.” For Lanz it didn’t fit together because: “You have to have a position, a united position!” The AfD leader replied angrily: “We as a parliamentary group have this position.” At the same time, he admitted that there were “majority opinions on many points and positions” in his party.

Journalist Frederik Schindler countered skeptically: “It is clear that there are very (…) contradictory positions in the AfD parliamentary group.” The reason? The AfD has positioned itself differently for a long time, “also towards the Iranian regime, also towards Israel. It was actually clear for a long time that they were on Israel’s side.” In addition, the AfD had been very “critical of Islam” for years: “That was, so to speak, an enemy image. (…) In recent years that has changed a bit.

Chrupalla “extremely disappointed in Donald Trump”

Chrupalla then emphasized: “I also stand on the side of the Israeli people, there are no discussions at all.” However, as a “friend of Israel” one must be able to “criticize a government – the Netanyahu government”. US President Donald Trump was also reprimanded by the AfD man. Chrupalla referred to the mood in the USA and warned: “70 percent of Americans (…) don’t want any more wars. (…) And in the end he has to explain that to his voters.” His conclusion was therefore clear: “I am extremely disappointed in Donald Trump, I say that quite openly, when it comes to his campaign promises and his announcements.”

Tino Chrupalla: “Dirty laundry is washed at home”

The second part of the program was about the relatives affair in the AfD after several mutual employments between family members became public. Chrupalla initially calmed down the situation: “These are all employment contracts and relationships that are legal. Not a single one is illegal!” However, Frederik Schindler countered: “We don’t even know that yet!” According to Schindler, “in some cases (…) there is fictitious employment – that would actually be illegal”. Chrupalla was not deterred by this and said sternly: “You have to prove it!” At the same time, he admitted that there is “a taste when you have cross-employment, because of course you at least give the impression of having personal advantages.”

Schindler was surprised and announced that there were “still a lot of cases that are not yet publicly known. That means there is still a lot to come.” Chrupalla reacted defensively: “I don’t know.” He further clarified: “Dirty laundry is washed at home. We do it internally and we don’t do it through the ‘world’ or through any media!” When Chrupalla spoke of “individual cases,” Schindler countered with annoyance: “If new individual cases come out every week (…), then at some point you can no longer speak of individual cases.” Chrupalla nevertheless reiterated that this would be clarified “not in public (…), but internally”. At the end, Lanz asked with interest: “Will you clarify this unreservedly, as brutally as possible (…)?” Chrupalla replied: “The highest good (…) is credibility. And of course we will do that, yes.”