"Party Logo Projection and Barbecue? 'Nuisance' Far-Right German Party Ordered to Vacate Headquarters"

AfD, Germany's Top-Ranked Party, Loses Headquarters Lawsuit
Must Find New Office by Next Fall
Strong Landlord Opposition Expected to Complicate Search

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), currently leading in German party approval ratings, is facing the threat of eviction from its headquarters. According to Yonhap News on the 26th (local time), citing German broadcaster rbb, the Berlin Regional Court ruled in a lawsuit filed by the real estate company Querkusgrund, the owner of the AfD’s central headquarters building, that the AfD must vacate the premises entirely between September and December next year.

Supporters of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) participated in a rally in Berlin last February, waving national flags. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News, the AfD began renting a building in Reinickendorf, northern Berlin, in 2022. The original contract was set to run until the end of 2027. However, during the general election last February, the AfD projected its party logo onto the building's exterior wall and held a barbecue in the courtyard, which became an issue. At that time, the AfD, having risen to become the second-largest party in parliament, held a celebration, which drew large crowds of protesters condemning the party and led to increased police control in the area.

The building owner claimed that other tenants suffered due to the AfD and that the party violated the lease agreement, which prohibited displaying party logos and other symbols, and therefore demanded their eviction. When the AfD refused, the owner filed a lawsuit. In its ruling, the court did not grant the owner's request for immediate eviction but did order the AfD to vacate the building one year earlier than the contract stipulated. The AfD assessed that it had successfully defended itself in the lawsuit, stating that its headquarters is currently located in the outskirts, a 30-minute drive from the Bundestag, and that it had already been searching for a better location.

In May, citizens opposing the Alternative for Germany (AfD) participated in a rally in Berlin, Germany. Photo by AFP News Agency

However, there are concerns about whether the AfD will be able to secure a new building by next fall. Strong public opposition to far-right parties in Germany and the inconvenience caused by protest rallies make it difficult for the party to find a landlord willing to rent to them. Reportedly, the party’s celebration during last February’s general election was held at its headquarters because it could not secure another venue. Alice Weidel, AfD co-chair, also does not maintain an office in her constituency near Lake Constance on the Swiss border. It is known that landlords have many requirements, making it hard for the party to find a suitable space.

During the lawsuit, the AfD offered to increase the rent by 6% in exchange for staying until next fall, but this proposal was rejected. However, AfD treasurer Carsten H?tter described the ruling as a "victory for the rule of law" and stated, "We plan to move into a new property owned by the party next year."

The weekly magazine Stern pointed out, "Selling real estate to the AfD would result in significant reputational damage, and the surrounding area would become a permanent protest site," adding, "It is certain that the rent will be extremely high. Within the party, figures as high as tens of millions of euros (hundreds of billions of won) are being discussed."

In the general election earlier this year, the AfD secured the second-largest number of seats in the Bundestag, with 20.8% of the vote, following the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance. Recently, in several public opinion polls, the AfD has overtaken the CDU/CSU alliance to claim the top spot in approval ratings.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.