Alternative for Germany Expels Politician Over Hitler-like Speech Amid Internal Turmoil
AfD's disciplinary court removes Alexander Eichwald following controversial speech mimicking Hitler's rhetoric style.
The right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has expelled 30-year-old Alexander Eichwald after he delivered a speech mimicking Adolf Hitler's manner of speaking at the party's youth wing congress. The disciplinary court cited Eichwald's behavior as significantly damaging to the party's reputation.
Eichwald's exclusion was announced on April 25 by party representatives, though he retains the right to appeal the decision to the federal arbitration court of the AfD. Eichwald confirmed his intention to appeal, refusing to accept his expulsion. He did not attend the disciplinary hearing, submitting his defense in writing instead.
Controversial Speech and Background
Eichwald became the focus of media attention in late November 2025 after his address at the founding congress of the AfD youth organization "Generation Germany" in North Rhine-Westphalia. During the speech, he employed distinctive gestures, elongated words, and pronounced the letter "r" with an intonation strongly reminiscent of Hitler’s speeches, raising immediate questions about his intent and the party’s tolerance of such conduct.
At the time, Eichwald attributed his speech style to his Russian upbringing. He emigrated from Rostov-on-Don to Germany at the age of nine and learned German in part through songs by the band Rammstein. Media outlets including ZDF confirmed that while he speaks with a Russian accent in daily life, his public speech at the congress was artificially styled.
"His speech was a planned action intended to hold up a mirror to society and expose the presence of neo-Nazis within the AfD leadership," Eichwald told the press after the critical backlash.
Eichwald described the speech as a deliberate performance aimed at revealing extremist elements within the party. He rejected interpretations that it was satire or parody, stating he portrayed a "persona" rather than acting out a role. He also sharply criticized AfD co-chair Alice Weidel for comments made in January 2025, where she referred to Hitler and Stalin as "spiritual brothers," calling it an affront and an attempt to downplay the Nazi campaign against Slavs.
Implications for AfD's Corporate Strategy and Party Image
The expulsion of Eichwald highlights ongoing internal struggles within AfD regarding leadership, ideological boundaries, and public image management. The party's disciplinary action serves as a strategic move to distance itself from overt neo-Nazi associations that threaten its efforts to consolidate a broader voter base.
However, Eichwald's continued defiance, including a recent half-hour video posted on YouTube where he repeats the controversial "r" pronunciation, indicates persistent factional tensions. This ongoing controversy poses challenges to AfD’s management in balancing radical elements with the need to maintain legitimacy in Germany’s competitive political landscape.
As AfD seeks to expand its influence, handling such incidents decisively is crucial to preserving its standing while navigating Germany’s complex socio-political environment characterized by sensitivity to historical extremism.
