Austrian Far-Right Figure Meets AfD Lawmakers in Thuringia Parliament

Senior members of the Thuringian Alternative for Germany (AfD) party recently welcomed Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner to the state parliament in Erfurt. The meeting focused on discussions regarding Sellner's controversial 'remigration' concept and its comparison with the AfD's own approach to the issue.

Photographs shared on social media by Daniel Haseloff, deputy leader of the AfD parliamentary group in Thuringia, indicated that federal parliamentarians Stefan Möller and Robert Teske also attended the gathering. Stefan Möller serves as a state spokesperson for the Thuringian AfD, alongside Björn Höcke.

The unannounced visit of Sellner to the state parliament prompted strong criticism from other political parties. Representatives from both the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and The Left (Die Linke) condemned the event. The CDU's state general secretary in Thuringia described the meeting as a clear indication of the AfD's proximity to extremist circles and called on the party to issue a public clarification. The Left's parliamentary group argued that inviting a prominent far-right ideologue into the legislative building undermined democratic values and principles.

Martin Sellner is recognized as a leading figure within the Identitarian Movement (IB), an organization classified as far-right extremist by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Sellner's 'remigration' strategy includes calls for exerting pressure on citizens with migration backgrounds whom he believes have not assimilated, encouraging them to leave Germany. Despite claims that he does not support forced deportations, the policy has been widely criticized as discriminatory and exclusionary. The Identitarian Movement is under surveillance by German authorities due to its extremist positions.

This incident follows a recent controversy in Brandenburg, where Sellner had been invited to speak at an event organized by local AfD representative Lena Kotré. Although the official event was cancelled after internal party criticism, Sellner proceeded to hold a separate meeting, which Kotré attended as a guest. The sequence of these events has fueled ongoing debates about the AfD's stance on extremism and its internal disagreements regarding migration policies.

The Thuringian branch of the AfD is officially categorized by the state's intelligence agency as a confirmed far-right extremist group and is subject to monitoring. In 2024, the AfD released a statement distancing itself from Sellner's specific proposals, asserting that the party does not distinguish between German citizens based on migration background. Nonetheless, AfD representatives in Thuringia have stated their intention to pursue their own version of 'remigration' policies, emphasizing that any measures would comply with existing laws and constitutional standards.

In response to the meeting, Haseloff criticized the restrictions placed on Sellner's entry into Germany, labeling them excessive. Meanwhile, security authorities in Erfurt prepared for potential protests related to a separate event involving Sellner at a local venue, anticipating demonstrations by left-wing groups and planning a corresponding police presence.

The broader use of the term 'remigration' by far-right actors typically refers to advocating for the departure, sometimes under duress, of individuals with foreign backgrounds from Germany. These concepts have drawn widespread condemnation from mainstream political parties and civil society organizations, who argue that such policies are incompatible with democratic values and fundamental rights.