DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics How the far-right AfD fuelled a campaign of division
Jul 25, 2025
Philipp Sälhoff, Director of Polisphere, and political correspondent Matt Moore delve into the far-right AfD's strategic manipulation of misinformation during the recent constitutional court judge elections. They discuss the impact of over 4,000 tweets that distorted public perception, revealing how disinformation is reshaping German politics. The duo highlights the AfD's tactics of polarization and their consequences for traditional parties, as well as the importance of adapting political communication in the age of social media to combat rising division among voters.
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AfD's Polarizing Influence Strategy
- The AfD exploited false claims about a judge's stance on abortion to create polarization and influence a parliamentary vote.
- This campaign used a rapid escalation strategy, including last-minute accusations about the candidate's credentials.
Parliament Question Sparks Viral Misinterpretation
- The AfD skillfully used a parliamentary question about abortion to generate a misleading viral moment.
- This manipulation effectively framed a moderate candidate as radical, amplifying polarization on social media.
Von Storch's Tweet Fueled Campaign
- Beatrix von Storch's tweet was the most impactful in spreading falsehoods about the judge.
- The campaign used legal mail tools to mobilize voters against the candidate based on false claims.