Portrait of Marine Le Pen
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Marine Le Pen on AfD (Alternative for Germany)

Clean Break with AfD (strong)

Marine Le Pen announced in May 2024 that her party, the National Rally (RN), would end cooperation with the German far-right AfD party, stating that it was "time to make a clean break with this movement." The primary catalyst for this decision was comments made by the AfD's lead European election candidate, Maximilian Krah, who appeared to downplay the crimes of the Nazis, specifically regarding the SS paramilitary organization.

Le Pen characterized the AfD as being rudderless and too heavily influenced by radical elements within it, noting that the party was going "from one provocation to another." This formal separation led to the immediate exclusion of the AfD delegation from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, which France's RN largely controlled.

This strategic distancing is seen as part of Le Pen's ongoing effort to reshape the RN's image away from the extremism associated with her father, which involved purging controversial elements. Her action was intended to safeguard her own political standing and ambition to become President of France by rejecting allies whose rhetoric was perceived as politically compromising or too extreme for the broader electorate.

Context

Marine Le Pen leads the National Rally (RN), a party she has spent years attempting to 'de-demonize' and bring closer to the political mainstream in France. The AfD has historically been an ally within the Identity and Democracy (ID) parliamentary group in the European Parliament, making the relationship politically significant for pooling influence.

Le Pen’s objective is to present her political platform as a credible governing alternative in future French presidential elections, a goal potentially jeopardized by association with parties facing intense domestic scrutiny or accused of Nazi apologia, such as the AfD.

Timeline

  1. Marine Le Pen expressed initial clear opposition to the AfD's reported 'remigration' project, which involved the potential withdrawal of nationality from naturalized German citizens.
  2. Following controversial comments by AfD lead candidate Maximilian Krah minimizing the criminality of the Nazi SS, Le Pen announced a definitive 'clean break' with the party.
  3. The Identity and Democracy (ID) Group in the European Parliament officially voted for the immediate exclusion of the German AfD delegation.

Actions Taken

  1. Political severance
    Announced that the National Rally (RN) would make a "clean break" with the AfD, stating separation was urgent due to repeated provocations.
  2. European parliamentary action
    Le Pen's party supported the exclusion of the AfD from the Identity and Democracy (ID) Group in the European Parliament, effective immediately.

Criticism

AfD’s Maximilian Krah

His comments about the SS being "not all criminals" appeared to be the final straw that forced Le Pen to act.

Anonymous critics within the European Right

Le Pen’s action divided the European Right, as some saw it as a necessary distancing, while others noted the potential for weakening the ID group's overall power.

Comparison

The split contrasts with Le Pen's earlier strategy of maintaining broad alliances on the European right, demonstrating a shift in priorities toward image management over alliance consolidation.

While the AfD has arguably moved in a more militant direction, Le Pen has been actively steering the RN towards a more moderate, albeit still nationalist, profile, making continued partnership difficult.