CPAC Expansion to Germany Highlights Deepening Right-Wing Network and AfD Ties

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a major event historically linked to US Republican right-wing politics, is planning to expand its reach by establishing a German edition, confirmed by George Weinberg, a Republican spokesperson in Germany. Founded in 1973 and known for its association with former US President Donald Trump and international right-wing leaders such as Viktor Orbán in Hungary, CPAC’s move into Germany marks a significant development in the country’s political landscape.

While CPAC Germany claims it will be a "decidedly party-independent, bourgeois-conservative forum," skepticism surrounds its independence due to notable connections with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. AfD figures have participated at prior CPAC events in Hungary and Poland; for example, AfD MEP Petr Bystron expressed enthusiasm about the German expansion, signaling strong interest from both German and American participants. Additionally, organizers like Arian Aghashahi, who formerly led the AfD-affiliated "Souveränitätsstiftung," underscore these close ties.

This development emerges amid growing concerns about right-wing extremism and hate crimes in Germany. In the eastern state of Saxony, authorities reported a rise in hate crimes targeting queer individuals, with 163 incidents last year, about three-quarters of which were right-wing motivated. Social Minister Petra Köpping has called for firm action against such discrimination, reflecting social tensions that contextualize the political undercurrents leading to events like CPAC’s German debut.

Although CPAC Germany’s organization is still in its early phases, the event already symbolizes the increasing networking and influence of right-wing groups within Germany’s conservative circles. The AfD views this as a success, but critics worry it could further legitimize far-right ideologies under the guise of a broadly conservative forum.