Thuringia's AfD state party and parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke has sworn in his supporters in Oranienburg for the election year 2024 and underlined the party's ambitions. "We must achieve one thing (...) that those who love Germany with all their hearts come to the high state offices - to the state chancellery in Potsdam, to the state chancellery in Saxony, to the state chancellery in Erfurt and to the chancellor's office," Höcke said in Oranienburg on Thursday evening.
In 2024, state parliaments will be elected in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg. This year, the AfD will put a "political exclamation mark," Höcke said in the Brandenburg town near Berlin.
For nearly an hour, Höcke spoke to about 350 supporters in Schlossplatz. Germany is facing a tipping point, he said. In particular, the economy is going down the drain under the current federal government. This policy is "sucking the marrow out of our bones," Höcke said.
Höcke, who is powerful in the AfD, emphasized his desire for a strong Europe. He said his goal was to build "a new Europe" together with Russia. "This EU must die so that the true Europe can live." According to Höcke, this also includes a clear departure from what he sees as a far too loose migration policy. "If we can't build Fortress Europe, we will build Fortress Germany." Several AfD-affiliated attendees interrupted Höcke with calls for closed borders. "Fortress Europe - close the borders," some chanted several times.
