AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt caught making Hitler salute; party tries to explain
POLITICO exclusively revealed a photo of AfD leader Martin Reichardt performing a Hitler salute. Party figures dismiss it as an unfortunate photo situation.
An exclusive photo obtained by POLITICO shows Martin Reichardt, head of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, performing a Hitler salute. The scandal was uncovered by Pauline von Pezold and Frederik Schindler of the “Inside AfD” podcast.
In the podcast, together with Gordon Repinski, they discuss the AfD’s absurd attempts to explain the photo, reactions from the party leadership, and how the affair might affect the election campaign in the state.
The episode features an interview with AfD parliamentary manager Stephan Brandner, who defends Reichardt. Brandner calls it an “unfavorable photo situation” and questions whether a deputy who openly shows the Hitler salute would still have a place in the faction.
The podcast also covers the conference of state premiers, focusing on major topics like state modernization and energy. Behind the scenes, however, there is tension between the Chancellor, Bavaria’s Markus Söder, and North Rhine-Westphalia’s Hendrik Wüst.
