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Björn Höcke and Tino Chrupalla in Riesa
Photo: Sebastian Kahnert / dpa
"Good morning," says Björn Höcke, still friendly.
Then he clearly admonishes the AfD delegates at the federal party conference, his voice now colder: "Let's finally start thinking politically!".
When he goes into the explanation and talks about the protection of the constitution, it is icy.
This is an "instrument of power" of the political opponents, it should not actually exist in a constitutional state.
According to Höcke, the AfD should in future determine “through our own strength, our own self-confidence, our own will” who is an extremist and from whom the party is distancing itself.
You shouldn't rely on the protection of the constitution.
That's why the delegates should decide to remove a right-wing extremist union from the AfD's incompatibility list.
60 percent then voted in favour.
Members of this trade union from Baden-Württemberg are now also allowed to join the AfD.
The vote is an example of how the balance of power in the party is - and how it will appear in the future: more radical in tone, without regard to the protection of the constitution.
Because the right-wing extremist Thuringian head of state Höcke and his followers shaped the party congress significantly, criticism was voted down.
And they took on the new board, showing that they want even more influence than they already have.
On Saturday evening, party leader Tino Chrupalla, who had just been confirmed in office, spoke of "departure".
Finally, there should be unity that will lead the AfD out of the crisis, according to his plan.
But that was out of the question on the third day in Riesa.
The federal party conference had started quietly.
It was decided that a one-pointer should also be possible in the future, but this time two people will lead the AfD.
Unsurprisingly, Chrupalla and Alice Weidel were chosen on Saturday.
The remaining board elections were also not very exciting for AfD conditions, even though none of the less radical made it into the committee.
Nine of the 14 elected are people from Chrupalla's list, including Höcke confidants.
He then brought two of his own people to the board that Chrupalla didn't have on the list.
Four others were also chosen, both of which shouldn't have any problems as they are considered »flexible«.
On Sunday, the party then wanted to take off with its "homogeneous" executive board, as party vice Stephan Brandner called it.
But when it came to the first substantive resolution, the argument broke out again, and how.
Björn Höcke introduced them and demanded the dissolution of the European Union.
Instead, a new economic and interest group is to be founded, without the euro and the ECB.
The only real executive cooperation is said to be in border protection, there is talk of »Fortress Europe«, including physical barriers, i.e. walls or fences.
She was supported, among others, by Chrupalla, honorary chairman Alexander Gauland, and the two new board members Martin Reichardt and Maximilian Krah.
The resolution is written in typical Höcke style, racist, conspiracy ideological.
There is talk, for example, of "globalists", "separated elites" and "cadres of highly paid bureaucrats" who are unscrupulous.
The language caused resentment, with one delegate calling it unacceptable.
Alice Weidel also opposed it, at least in part, saying that the resolution was "in parts dubious" although it was "in the right direction" in terms of content.
The tone gradually intensifies
The debate lasted a total of two hours and 20 minutes, the tone gradually intensified, loud and mocking laughter erupted, and each other was accused of wanting to prevent the vote using unfair means.
Time and again, procedural motions are brought in to interrupt the party congress so that "everyone can get some fresh air."
Several delegates self-critically remark that they are making a fool of themselves in front of the media representatives, but it's no use.
Again and again the votes are close, the most prominent right-wing extremists from Höcke's environment repeatedly speak, and they always win.
Only when Chrupalla took the stage together with six state leaders, including Jörg Urban from Saxony, and asked for the resolution to be passed on to the federal executive board, was he successful.
Around 56 percent vote in favor, but only because the supporters of the resolution know that there is now a majority for their positions on the federal executive board.
And because otherwise the new party leadership would have been embarrassed on their first real day at work.
In order not to present a similar situation again, one delegate then immediately applied for the party congress to be ended, with success.
After that, two other Höcke projects would have been on the agenda: a resolution against arms deliveries, in which one speaks out against Ukraine joining NATO, and with which the blockade of Nord Stream 2, like all sanctions, should be lifted .
In addition, the Thuringian wanted to install a maximum of eleven members "Commission for the preparation of a party structure reform".
This should have made sure that the base was strengthened, that the federal executive board was contained and that the youngsters were better promoted, all concerns that Höcke has had for a long time – and which would have given him a good platform to become party leader himself in two years.
Finally, the head of the commission is to be closely linked to the executive board.
It didn't come to that.
Höcke will certainly not bury the project, on the contrary.
And until the commission is in place, he has a good power base through the board of directors to continue to shape the AfD – and to make life difficult for those who want to contain him.
Chrupalla and Weidel are considered by some to be damaged as early as Sunday.
"The party leader is sitting there, that much is already clear," says a member of the Bundestag on the edge of the hall - and points to the table at which Höcke is sitting.
