Politics · Germany · 11 hrs ago
AfD veteran Alexander Gauland says he has cancer
Alexander Gauland has publicly disclosed that he has cancer, according to his office.
The 85-year-old is an AfD politician and a member of Germany’s Bundestag, the country’s federal parliament.
He has undergone three operations for the illness.
His office says he has been able to attend parliamentary sessions only in a limited capacity since early 2025.
He took part in about 55% of recorded votes in the current parliamentary term, according to a tally cited in the coverage.
His future attendance depends on how well his treatment goes, and his office has not said when he learned of the diagnosis.
AfD founder Alexander Gauland says cancer has limited his attendance at Bundestag sessions since early 2025.
His office says the 85-year-old has undergone three operations and that regular attendance is not possible.
Bild reports that he is receiving chemotherapy and working from home, with in-person attendance depending on how the treatment progresses.
A Tag24 tally cited by the outlets found he took part in 47 of 85 recorded roll-call votes in the current legislative term.
- Who
- Alexander Gauland, 85, an AfD member of the Bundestag and party honorary chairman.
- What
- He has disclosed that cancer has restricted his attendance at Bundestag sessions. His office says he has undergone three operations.
- When
- The health-related limits on his attendance began in early 2025, according to his office.
- Where
- The German Bundestag in Berlin; Bild reports that he is currently working from home in Chemnitz.
- Why
- His office says a cancer illness has affected his health and ability to attend sessions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Gauland’s office says cancer-related health limits began restricting his attendance at Bundestag sessions.
Gauland said in an interview that his health was not good, without mentioning cancer.
He spoke in the Bundestag during a debate on the war in Ukraine.
A Tag24 tally cited by Bild found no recorded participation by Gauland in 17 roll-call votes.
Gauland appeared at a public discussion on German eastern policy with former SPD politician Thilo Sarrazin.
His office publicly confirmed that cancer had restricted his Bundestag attendance.
- Age
- 85
- Operations
- Three
- Roll-call votes
- 47 of 85 recorded votes in the current legislative term
- Chemotherapy
- Reported by Bild
- Direct election result
- 32.2% of first votes in Chemnitz constituency 161 in the February 23, 2025 election
2 sources
What people are saying
Since the beginning of last year, Dr. Gauland has been able to attend sessions of the German Bundestag only to a limited extent for health reasons due to a cancer illness
That also always depends on my health, and I am not doing well at the moment
If Ukraine wants to continue fighting, that is its good right, but it is not our business