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Germany’s largest opposition party, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), is reportedly preparing to establish a presence in Türkiye through its affiliated organization, the Desiderius Erasmus Foundation, according to a report by journalist Barcin Yinanc in T24.
The Erasmus Foundation, known for promoting the ideological principles of the AfD, a party widely described as racist, anti-Islam, and anti-immigrant, has allegedly begun searching for a building to open a representative office in Türkiye, according to Turkish media outlet T24 report.
As the Christian Democrat–Social Democrat coalition prepares to review bilateral ties with Ankara, the AfD—now Germany’s largest opposition party—appears to be expanding its activities abroad, with Türkiye emerging as its next target.
In Germany, political parties traditionally operate foundations to promote their ideological principles internationally. Several mainstream German party foundations—including the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Christian Democrats), Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Social Democrats), Friedrich Naumann Foundation (Liberals), and Heinrich Böll Foundation (Greens)—have long been active in Türkiye.
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Türkiye this year. However, these organizations have occasionally faced accusations of espionage or interference in domestic politics, leading to controversy. The AfD’s entry through the Erasmus Foundation would make it the fifth German political foundation operating in Türkiye.
The AfD surged to become Germany’s second-largest political party in the early elections held in February, winning 20.4% of the vote. The party’s affiliated Desiderius Erasmus Foundation has since qualified for state funding, expected to reach €16 million annually, according to German media.
Despite its relatively recent emergence, the AfD has seen a rapid rise in influence. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), officially classified the party as a “definitively far-right organization.” Mainstream parties have pledged not to cooperate with the AfD, but its electoral success—including nearly tripling its vote share in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to 14.5% last week—continues to fuel debate in Berlin.
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The reports about the AfD’s expansion come as German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul prepares to visit Ankara on Friday for his first official trip to Türkiye, where he will hold talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Josef Hinterseher said Wadephul and Fidan will discuss a range of issues, including developments in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Syria, as well as bilateral relations.
“The talks will focus on the situation in the Gaza Strip, among other topics,” Hinterseher said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s cease-fire plan. “Following the release of the hostages, the main priority now is to quickly improve the humanitarian situation and begin implementing the next phases of the 20-point plan,” he added.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, both sides are expected to emphasize the importance of maintaining high-level consultation and dialogue mechanisms between Türkiye and Germany—at a time when AfD’s growing influence is reshaping Germany’s political landscape and adding a new dimension to bilateral relations.
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