In 2012, Alexander Gauland, Bernd Lucke and Konrad Adam formed the "Electoral Alternative 2013". It was critical of Germany's policy toward the eurozone crisis. Some candidates who were part of the "Electoral Alternative 2013" ran for election in Lower Saxony in alliance with the Free Voters. They then decided to form a party to compete in the 2013 federal election. The group wanted to abolish the euro, so the Free Voters refused to join forces.