AfD Federal Executive Board Calls for NRW State Party Conference to Be Halted

The trigger for the conflict is the power struggle between the moderate state chairman Martin Vincentz and supporters described as "extremere Kräfte um den Bundestagsabgeordneten Matthias Helferich." The Helferich faction is accused of having proposed more than 100 candidates for a list seat for the state election.

Accusations Against the State Chairman

The federal leadership holds the state chairman personally responsible. The letter states: "Es liege in der Verantwortung des Landeschefs, ein Debakel auszuschließen." At the same time, the federal co-chairs Weidel and Chrupalla accuse Vincentz of having failed to get the situation under control.

Vincentz, in turn, sharply attacked federal spokesperson Alice Weidel. "Landeschef Vincentz warf Bundesprecherin Alice Weidel vor, hinter der Aktion zu stecken," according to the record. In doing so, the state chairman assigns partial blame for the escalation to the federal leadership.

The federal executive board cites significant evidence that electoral principles were violated during the nomination of candidates for the state election. In addition, there are reportedly indications that delegates were threatened or subjected to massive pressure during the nomination process.

Significance for the 2026 State Election

The matter is also politically significant with regard to the state election next year. If the dispute is not resolved, the AfD in North Rhine-Westphalia faces a bitterly divided drawing up of the state list – a scenario the federal party leadership is keen to prevent at all costs.

Observers interpret the public pressure exerted by the federal executive board on a state association as an unprecedented interference in the internal party order of a state party. The wording of the federal leadership, "Den Parteitag abbrechen, das fordert die Bundesspitze der AfD vom Landesverband Nordrhein-Westfalen," underscores the urgency of the intervention.

It remains unclear by the planned continuation date on Friday in Marl whether the NRW executive board will comply with the demand. Should the list not be drawn up in a legally sound manner, the party faces legal disputes, potentially including challenges to the nomination of candidates.