Frauke Petry: meet the smiling new face of Germany's far-right

Former chemist and entrepreneur seeks to transform Alternative for Germany (AfD) from party of protest to partner in power.

A research chemist and entrepreneur who only entered politics seriously in 2013, Mrs Petry has had an alchemical effect on the fortunes of Germany’s far-right, broadening the party’s appeal and scoring unprecedented success in this month’s regional elections.

Frauke Petry: meet the smiling new face of Germany's far-right - Telegraph


I say...Go Frauke

I hope the Germans vote out Grandma Merkel. Major countries don't need Grannies to run them, they need strong people with common sense.

The ruling misanthropes get all that's coming.

here you can make your own picture, what kind of woman that is (in English) :

Frauke Petry im Deutsche-Welle-Interview über Flüchtlinge, die AfD und den Euro - Today - bento

I was very amused how fast he got her down to what she really is

Far right= we want to control our borders and be an independent nation.

From what I hear from Germans I'm still in touch with, what shows on Frauke's face is considered a perpetual smirk. Born from Frauke being constantly shown as all awash and providing the only reaction left to her.

I don't mind a party to the right of Merkel's CDU/CSU to enter German parliaments, if/when that party unconditionally supports our Grundgesetz (constitution) and the free, democratic system.

I'd cry foul and deem it legitimate to villify and ostracize them, if they were freedom hating, anti-constitutional authoritarians (such as the neo-Nazis from the fringe NPD). Anything else would be fair play and a matter for serious debate.

Germany has a far-left party with some questionable elements for two decades now, which mostly wasn't a problem. Wouldn't be different with a (constitutional) far-right party.

So far, Petry's AFD has not officially decided about a platform yet, and it's uncertain in which direction that party will develop. I hope they'll manage to keep out the anti-constitutional freedom-haters. If it became a serious conservative party, good for the voters; if they become a breeding hole for fascist revolutionaries, screw them.


Ideally, I'd hope for increased polarization in the country again. On the long run, post-Merkel, the CDU/CSU should consider forming coalitions with the AFD as junior partners. In that case, there would be a very visible, crucial difference to the center-left again -- and in turn, many disgruntled former center-left SPD voters would return to the voting booths, too.

Your vote would make a true difference if you had the choice between a true right-wing and true left-wing coalition -- rather than enternal centrist "grand coalitions" where your vote hardly matters. Even voting left would actually be fun again.

German guy said:

~ Ideally, I'd hope for increased polarization in the country again. ~

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You don't read that very often. I understand the reasoning but do you honestly think a Govt would honestly form a coalition with a party whose leader advocates shooting people crossing a border illegally?

Infinite Chaos said:

You don't read that very often. I understand the reasoning but do you honestly think a Govt would honestly form a coalition with a party whose leader advocates shooting people crossing a border illegally?

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Believe me, I hate it -- A LOT -- having to defend the AFD in this case, but I think this statement was a rhetoric gaffe taken out of context. What Beatrix von Storch meant to say that even lethal force is justified defending a country's borders as last resort. You can agree or disagree with that statement, but it's absolutely within the realm of law and not outrageous either (if a country weren't allowed to defend the own borders, why have them in the first place?).

That said, I wouldn't vote for the AFD. Among other reasons, because of statements like those.

So if the CDU/CSU considered a coalition with the AFD, you'd finally know very well again why NOT to vote for them.

German guy said:

~ What Beatrix von Storch meant to say that even lethal force is justified defending a country's borders as last resort. You can agree or disagree with that statement, but it's absolutely within the realm of law and not outrageous either (if a country weren't allowed to defend the own borders, why have them in the first place?) ~

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It's along the lines that a policeman has the right (in some countries) to end up shooting you if you don't take a parking violation ticket. I don't see it as a last resort but a failure of dealing with a foreseeable problem in a more civilised and less brutal manner.

Infinite Chaos said:

It's along the lines that a policeman has the right (in some countries) to end up shooting you if you don't take a parking violation ticket. I don't see it as a last resort but a failure of dealing with a foreseeable problem in a more civilised and less brutal manner.

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Totally agree. It was a rather "Trumpish" rhetorical stunt.

However, I don't believe further villifying or ostracizing the AFD will lead anywhere (unless it moves further right). Some mainstream media outlets and established politicians tried that in the past months, but it backfired, and turned out to be free advertizement for that party.

I'm afraid we'll have to deal with it seriously, paying them respect as democratic opponents and addressing their stances, rather than "playing the Nazi card". Ideally, they could even be tamed by forming coalitions with them. That's better than having to worry on the long term, about a radicalization and further rise of that party.

German guy said:

Believe me, I hate it -- A LOT -- having to defend the AFD in this case, but I think this statement was a rhetoric gaffe taken out of context. What Beatrix von Storch meant to say that even lethal force is justified defending a country's borders as last resort. You can agree or disagree with that statement, but it's absolutely within the realm of law and not outrageous either (if a country weren't allowed to defend the own borders, why have them in the first place?).

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I'd posit the bolded to be an analogy gone awry. Apart from von Storch not having been the only one to say it (Petry harped upon it as well), she was as wrong as Petry where the law is concerned. Shooting unarmed (hence no pertinent threat) refugees is against the law. Whether they were shot by NVA while getting out or whether they would have been shot by BGS coming in. This situation now is no different.

I'd agree on it having been a gaffe and I'll also point out that at least Petry has admitted her mistake in quoting any law.

Aside of which I quite agree with your assessment made earlier of the overall political landscape. With the traditional Conservatives being more and more "social democratized" and the Social Democrats having become more and more "conservatized" they're practically indistinguishable by now. With there being no more traditional left and no more traditional right (both now at the centre) actual free space on either side was bound to open and subsequently be occupied.

Possibly by fools in either case.

German guy said:

I don't mind a party to the right of Merkel's CDU/CSU to enter German parliaments, if/when that party unconditionally supports our Grundgesetz (constitution) and the free, democratic system.

I'd cry foul and deem it legitimate to villify and ostracize them, if they were freedom hating, anti-constitutional authoritarians (such as the neo-Nazis from the fringe NPD).

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I think even the NPD should not be forbidden - they only get public with that process. You can ban parties, but you can´t ban ideas.
But I need not like them personally. For me the difference between the far left and the far right is the motivation.

For the far right it is egoism (personally / race / country / whatever) a big lack of humanity and freedom for the better off people
For the far left (ideally) it´s humanity, social fairness and freedom for all

So guess what I prefer personally

German guy said:

Ideally, I'd hope for increased polarization in the country again. On the long run, post-Merkel, the CDU/CSU should consider forming coalitions with the AFD as junior partners. In that case, there would be a very visible, crucial difference to the center-left again -- and in turn, many disgruntled former center-left SPD voters would return to the voting booths, too.

Your vote would make a true difference if you had the choice between a true right-wing and true left-wing coalition -- rather than enternal centrist "grand coalitions" where your vote hardly matters. Even voting left would actually be fun again.

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absolutely at your side - there should be an alternative

german hick said:

I think even the NPD should not be forbidden - they only get public with that process. You can ban parties, but you can´t ban ideas.
But I need not like them personally. For me the difference between the far left and the far right is the motivation.

For the far right it is egoism (personally / race / country / whatever) a big lack of humanity and freedom for the better off people
For the far left (ideally) it´s humanity, social fairness and freedom for all

So guess what I prefer personally

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Well, I'd say there is more than just one type of leftist and more than one type of righty, and IMO there are just as many disgusting, anti-humane people on the far-left as on the far-right, but you have a good point about the NPD.

Who cares about the NPD anymore anyway? Half of their protest votes goes to the AFD now, and the NPD which had been marginal before, is now even totally marginalized. A ban at this point seems like "shooting with cannons on sparrows".

absolutely at your side - there should be an alternative

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Last week, a Forsa polling guy called and asked which party I'd vote for if there were elections next sunday. I really had a very hard time coming up with a decision. More than any time before, as far as I remember.

German guy said:

Last week, a Forsa polling guy called and asked which party I'd vote for if there were elections next sunday. I really had a very hard time coming up with a decision. More than any time before, as far as I remember.

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same here... I tend to think left and green - but I also prefer supporting personal responsibility and freedom. Not a Topic of the "Linke". And I have some fears the Greens want to create a "Ökokratie" (hope the not German speaking understand my neologism )

social democrats is no alternative for me because of the reasons you mentioned - they are not very social any more...

PakPuk said:

Far right= we want to control our borders and be an independent nation.

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Exactly. Not 'Far Right' at all. If a party is on the right and moves further in that direction it becomes more and more libertarian as government gets smaller and smaller. (Which is why 'left libertarian' is a contradiction in terms).

Sweden said:

Exactly. Not 'Far Right' at all. If a party is on the right and moves further in that direction it becomes more and more libertarian as government gets smaller and smaller. (Which is why 'left libertarian' is a contradiction in terms).

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depends on the circumstances - if "liberal" means chances for everybody and not only for the ones with wealthy backround, it could be quite left for me.

german hick said:

I think even the NPD should not be forbidden - they only get public with that process. You can ban parties, but you can´t ban ideas.
But I need not like them personally. For me the difference between the far left and the far right is the motivation.

For the far right it is egoism (personally / race / country / whatever) a big lack of humanity and freedom for the better off people
For the far left (ideally) it´s humanity, social fairness and freedom for all

So guess what I prefer personally




absolutely at your side - there should be an alternative

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Neither of the Far Left parties, the Soviet Communists and the Nazis, are remembered for "humanity, social fairness and freedom for all" - rather death camps and a complete absence of freedom.

we could debate a long time if Nazis are Lefties - I know your stand. I read more than I write. ;o) - but that makes no sense for me.

With the soviets you are right. But you will agree with me that neither of them was democratic - and that is the requirement for me to be a political alternative anyway.

german hick said:

same here... I tend to think left and green - but I also prefer supporting personal responsibility and freedom. Not a Topic of the "Linke". And I have some fears the Greens want to create a "Ökokratie" (hope the not German speaking understand my neologism )

social democrats is no alternative for me because of the reasons you mentioned - they are not very social any more...

Click to expand...

I often used to vote for the Greens, but as the situation is now, I think more open borders, humanitarian morality and tolerance towards immigrants is not what we need -- IMO, there are times when such ideas are useful, but right now, we need more emphasis on demanding integration efforts from immigrants and limits to immigration, and battling the negative effects of the refugee situaion. Less hippie chatter and more tough talk about the bad sides of immigration. So no Greenies right now.

But the AFD is too unappetizing, some really disgusting people in there who hate immigrants for all the wrong reasons -- plus its economic policy ideas are hardline neo-liberal. And most of all, that party has not decided yet just how pro-constitutional it's going to be. So no option for me.

The growing material inequality is a nagging problem IMO. But whom do you vote for, about that? The SPD gives me no reason whatsoever to consider voting for it. It's neither fish nor flesh, a CDU light or a Linke light, somewhere in between, but no clear line.

So the Linke? I like many of their domestic policy ideas, but no way I'm going to vote for them on national level. There are quite a few freedom-hating grade A commie nuts in that party. And their foreign and defense policy ideas are ridiculous, if not outright dangerous and even treasonous. The fact alone that some of their leading members write congratulations to freedom-hating tyrants abroad makes me nauseous, and their cheap, naive, stupid pacifism is pukeworthy, IMO.

That leaves the FDP. They may not share my views on material equity, but I 100% trust them when it comes to pro-constitutionalism and civil rights. If any party has respect for our free political system, understands it and knows why it's a good thing, it's the FDP. Of course, the "old FDP" of Westerwelle and Rösler was a joke, but after their disaster in 2013, they deserve a second chance and the benefit of the doubt -- we'll see how serious they are about a new start. Hopefully they'll indeed place less emphasis on free-market radicalism and more on civil rights -- not least since some prominent former Pirate Party members joined the FDP. Plus, Lindner makes a good impression one me, he appears smart and rhetorically skilled. And the FDP remained critical of Merkel's refugee policies, without overshooting the mark -- "Rechtsstaat statt Rechtspopulismus" is just a slogan, but if there is actually substance behind it, it goes into the right direction, IMO.

So yeah, for the lack of better alternatives, I told the Forsa guy I'd vote for the FDP.

Sweden said:

Exactly. Not 'Far Right' at all. If a party is on the right and moves further in that direction it becomes more and more libertarian as government gets smaller and smaller. (Which is why 'left libertarian' is a contradiction in terms).

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That may be the case in America. But European conservatives/the European right is anything *but* libertarian.

Traditional European conservatism even is hardcore anti-liberal/anti-libertarian. True German conservatives loathe capitalism even more than commies do.

german hick said:

depends on the circumstances - if "liberal" means chances for everybody and not only for the ones with wealthy backround, it could be quite left for me.

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'Liberal' changes it's meaning over time and place. To me it still carries its historical sense of 'free trade' and pretty well uncontrolled capitalism. How it came to mean 'left' in the US I do not understand.

I believe in democracy, equal chances for all, small government and capitalism. The last very strictly regulated by government. For me the second most important task of government is the maintainance
of open free and honest markets.

The most things you said I agree with, even the point the FDP is trustable to defend our civil rights ect and Lindner is definetely a smart guy (Westphalian ;o) ) - but I can´t ignore the smell of the "party for the well off with no sympathy for social questions" - so I´m not able to vote for them.

I really don´t know at the moment. I have one year left to decide... ;o)

German guy said:

That may be the case in America. But European conservatives/the European right is anything *but* libertarian.

Traditional European conservatism even is hardcore anti-liberal/anti-libertarian. True German conservatives loathe capitalism even more than commies do.

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Who are the European conservatives who are against personal freedom? (They exist in the US, think Cruz) And who are the German conservatives who loathe capitalism more than do the communists? Maybe I know even less about German politics than I thought I did.

Sweden said:

'Liberal' changes it's meaning over time and place. To me it still carries its historical sense of 'free trade' and pretty well uncontrolled capitalism. How it came to mean 'left' in the US I do not understand.

I believe in democracy, equal chances for all, small government and capitalism. The last very strictly regulated by government. For me the second most important task of government is the maintainance
of open free and honest markets.

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Sounds nice. But in my opinion you are not able to give equal chances for all with uncontrolled capitalism.

Sweden said:

Who are the European conservatives who are against personal freedom? (They exist in the US, think Cruz) And who are the German conservatives who loathe capitalism more than do the communists? Maybe I know even less about German politics than I thought I did.

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In case you speak German, this book is helpful:

Konservativismus (Elemente der Politik) eBook: Sven-Uwe Schmitz: Amazon.de: Bücher

Short summary: Conservativism is a unique branch of ideology, next to liberalism and socialism. With its own unique roots and views. It sharply differs from (classical) liberalism (which you claim is identical to conservatism) in its view on human nature, the role of society and state, and several other points.

Many parties that are often colloquially referred to as "conservative" are actually (classically) liberal, or at least ecompass classical liberalism on a spectrum.