Thuringian AfD politicians are calling for the expulsion of party leader Björn Höcke. Some members of the party are preparing for his removal due to his support of an alternative list for elections, as well as a plan to expel AfD candidates from the party. The AfD mayor candidate for Rudolstadt, Jörg Gasda, stated that they are demanding Höcke’s resignation and are preparing for his removal. Several AfD members in Thuringia have expressed concern about Höcke’s behavior, with one stating that his actions are more in line with those of a narcissist rather than a democratic leader.
As Thuringia prepares for local elections on May 26, the AfD’s performance is being closely watched. The power struggle within the Thuringian state branch of the party has reached a new level with the proposal to exclude Höcke from the Alternative for Germany. In the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, tensions arose when some AfD members organized under the name “Alternative for the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt District” (AfL) and are competing against the official AfD list. The state AfD and its leader Björn Höcke have shown support for the AfL, causing division within the party. Nine AfD politicians are facing expulsion due to their involvement with the AfL list, which has been deemed damaging to the party by the state leadership.
The involvement of some AfD members in the AfL list has led to accusations of violating the party’s rules and causing harm to the party’s reputation. One member, Jörg Gasda, is facing allegations of election fraud in relation to the candidate list for the official AfD. The state party has accused the members of deliberately undermining party decisions and submitting a candidate list without proper authorization. Björn Höcke, a prominent figure in the far-right faction of the party, has faced legal issues in the past, including a fine for using a banned SA slogan in a speech. Despite the court ruling, he is appealing the decision.
The decision to pursue the expulsion of members involved in the AfL list has caused further division within the Thuringian AfD. The state party has accused the members of disregarding party decisions and working against the party’s interests. Höcke’s support for the AfL list and his controversial behavior have drawn criticism from within the party, with calls for his resignation growing louder. As the AfD prepares for local elections, the internal disputes within the party threaten to undermine its electoral performance and damage its reputation. The outcome of the power struggle within the Thuringian AfD remains uncertain as the party grapples with internal divisions and leadership conflicts.
