Alexander Gauland, the 85-year-old co-founder of the AfD and current oldest member of the Bundestag, has been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer since early 2025 and has undergone three surgeries, WELT reported.
For months, the veteran AfD politician has only participated in parliamentary sessions on a limited basis. His office, speaking through bureau chief Marco Wall, confirmed to TAG24 that Seit Anfang des vergangenen Jahres kann Herr Dr. Gauland aufgrund einer Krebserkrankung gesundheitsbedingt nur eingeschränkt an den Sitzungen des Deutschen Bundestages teilnehmen.
Gauland currently handles his legislative duties from home. His attendance at plenary and committee sessions currently depends on how well his chemotherapy progresses, with his office noting that he hopes to return to sessions more frequently in the future.
According to data cited by WELT and TAG24, his participation in the 21st legislative period has dropped significantly. Out of 85 roll-call votes, he cast votes in 47, marking a participation rate of roughly 55 percent, while recording no vote in 38 instances.
The absence grew more pronounced following the parliamentary summer break. Between September 24 and October 15, Gauland missed all 17 roll-call votes, as detailed by WELT.
Despite his medical treatments, Gauland made a public appearance on October 26 at the Bürgergarten in Stollberg, where he discussed German policy regarding Russia with former SPD politician Thilo Sarrazin. TAG24 berichtete, dass Gauland wegen der räumlichen Nähe zu seinem Wahlkreis und des Themas zum Umgang mit Russland in Zeiten des Ukrainekonflikts die Strapazen der Veranstaltung gerne auf sich nahm.
Earlier in the year, despite his illness, Gauland still made appearances in the Bundestag, including a speech on June 25 during an Urgent Hour on the war in Ukraine, where he stated, Wenn die Ukraine weiterkämpfen will, ist das ihr gutes Recht, doch nicht unsere Sache.
The Bundestag has documented this appearance in its media library, after which the former AfD parliamentary group leader grew increasingly quiet in parliament.
BILD highlighted a prior hint regarding his condition from an interview on February 25, 2026, in which Gauland stated, Das hängt ja auch immer von der Gesundheit ab, und da geht es mir zurzeit nicht gut.
At that time, however, he did not specify the cancer diagnosis.
It remains unclear when the diagnosis was initially made. As WELT and BILD reported, Gaulands office left open whether the illness was known prior to the February 23, 2025, federal election, where Gauland secured the direct mandate in Chemnitz Constituency 161 with 32.2 percent of the first-preference votes.
