Tino Chrupalla

Tino Chrupalla (German: [ˈtiːno kʁʊˈpala]; born 14 April 1975) is a German politician of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), and Member of the Bundestag since 2017. In November 2019, he was nominated by Alexander Gauland to replace him as co-chairman and later elected to the position. Since 2019, Chrupalla has served as chairman and lead spokesman for the AfD. Chrupalla was born on 14 April 1975 in Weißwasser, then East Germany. In 2003 he qualified via profession education exams as house painter and varnisher master. He later went on to become the owner of a construction company. Chrupalla is married with two children.

In March 2020, Chrupalla's car caught fire on his property. Police suspect arson, but no confirmation was issued. He condemned the attack as a direct attack on his family that went beyond all conceivable boundaries of political debate.

In October 2023, Chrupalla was hospitalised following a suspected syringe attack which occurred shortly before he was due to speak at an election rally. The incident came just days after co-leader Alice Weidel cancelled a public rally due to growing indications that her family would be attacked.

A witness told the local daily Donaukurier that the AfD leader had taken a few selfies and then collapsed before being transported to hospital. Andreas Aichele, a spokesman for the Upper Bavarian Police Department, said it remained unclear whether the politician had been attacked, had fallen, or simply was not feeling well. Aichele said authorities were not ruling anything out and that an investigation was ongoing.