AfD expands to 29 seats in Berlin parliament, appoints youthful leadership
The AfD entered Berlin's state parliament with 29 of 153 seats, gaining a third-place position and new key posts for young politicians.
When the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus convenes, the AfD will sit with 29 of the 153 legislators, a gain of 13 seats from the previous term and enough to become the third-strongest group. Each deputy receives a monthly allowance to run a constituency office and employ personnel, allowing the party to embed its more radical elements within official structures. The faction is composed of 25 men and four women, with Kristin Brinker retaining the chairmanship.
Young figures such as Alexander Bertram, Martin Kohler and Jan Streeck have been placed in senior spokesperson roles, reflecting a push to professionalise the party's image while staying close to its völkisch-nationalist wing. Other parliamentary groups have reiterated their refusal to back the AfD's nominee for the vice-presidency. The state security service may soon decide whether to classify the Berlin AfD as a right-extremist suspect case under new legislation.
Why it matters
The AfD's growth gives the far-right a stronger platform in Berlin's legislature and influences coalition dynamics.
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