A German AfD youth organization, the Junge Alternative (JA), is set to be dissolved and replaced by a new entity, as decided by the AfD’s federal party convention in Riesa on Sunday. The necessary constitutional amendment was passed with a two-thirds majority, with around 72% of the delegates voting in favor of the reform.
The proposal was presented by the JA’s federal chairman, Hannes Gnauck, who cited the debate over a potential party ban as a reason for the change. He argued that while a general AfD ban is unlikely, a ban on an unregistered association like the JA is more realistic.
The new youth organization, which will be given a new name, is expected to be a legally non-independent part of the parent party. Members will be all party members up to the age of 36. The organization will also allow membership for young people who have not yet turned 16, but are at least 14, as they are not yet eligible to join the AfD.
The background to this decision is the JA’s perception as being more radical than the parent party. The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the JA as “securely right-wing extremist” since April 2023.