AfD Seeks Power Through Image Polish and Cultural Division

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is implementing a dual strategy to gain power: using cultural issues to divide mainstream parties and simultaneously attempting to soften its image to attract voters hesitant about its anti-immigrant and other hardline stances. This plan was evident when the AfD exploited a government dispute over a judicial nominee to create a culture war debate. The strategy stems from an internal analysis of their second-place finish in recent elections, where their anti-immigrant and pro-coal/Russian gas platform garnered over 20% of the vote, but left them isolated due to other parties' refusal to form coalitions. The AfD believes a significant portion of German voters are conservative, a view they aim to leverage by highlighting shared concerns on the economy and migration with voters who supported the center-right.