German Far-Right AfD Leader Faces Backlash Over Nazi Salute Photo

Martin Reichardt, a senior member of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is under increasing pressure after a photo from 2020 surfaced showing him performing a Nazi salute. Reichardt, who is the AfD state leader in Saxony-Anhalt and a federal parliament member, denies the gesture was a Nazi salute, claiming it was intended as a joke during a humorous knighting ceremony. However, two witnesses present at the event said the gesture was indeed a Nazi salute.

The photo was first revealed in a Politico podcast, showing Reichardt smiling while raising his left arm. Another man in the image, Markus Mutschmann, appeared kneeling and addressing Reichardt as "Mein Führer," a claim Mutschmann denies but confirms the photo's authenticity. Mutschmann described the incident as meant to be funny and criticized the renewed controversy.

This revelation comes at a politically sensitive time for the AfD ahead of two state elections in eastern Germany, where the party leads in polls. Major victories in September could strengthen AfD's dominance in the region and challenge Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative party's ability to keep the far-right out of the federal government. Merz's party has sharply condemned Reichardt's actions, with Saxony-Anhalt's conservative premier Sven Schulze stating that a Nazi salute is a declaration of belief and unacceptable in parliament.

Despite the criticism, it remains unclear if the incident will damage AfD's strong polling, especially in eastern Germany where distrust of mainstream parties and media is widespread. The Saxony-Anhalt AfD branch called the accusations a desperate smear campaign on social media.

Reichardt is not the only AfD politician facing such allegations. Matthias Moosdorf, another AfD parliamentarian, is facing criminal charges for allegedly performing a Nazi salute inside the Reichstag building in 2023. His trial is expected in October. Moosdorf denies the charges, calling them a political character assassination attempt.