AfD in NRW: Federal Executive Waives Challenge of State List – Investigation Commission Planned

Background of the Conflict

The background to the dispute is a conflict over the party line within the NRW AfD between the moderate camp around state chairman Martin Vincentz and the right-wing extremist spectrum. The state association has long been deeply divided. The NRW AfD is split into a camp that presents itself more moderately, around state chairman Vincentz, and a further-right-oriented camp that supports federal chairwoman Weidel.

The conflict escalated at the party conference in Marl. A group of delegates had launched the "Operation Filibuster." Each of them was entitled to eight minutes of speaking time, which led to delays. According to reports, more than 90 candidates were suddenly nominated for list place 22. According to consistent accounts, voting-eligible delegates were threatened or placed under considerable pressure.

Escalation at the Party Conference

Deputy state chairman Zaum spoke of a "shameful party conference" ("Parteitag der Schande"). Christian Zaum had lost to Martin Vincentz in the spring when running for the post of state party chairman. Sven Tritschler, who sits for the AfD in the Düsseldorf state parliament, said on the sidelines of the conference that he had sworn statements concerning the alleged incidents from the previous conference weekend.

In the end, state chairman Vincentz was able to fill a large share of the promising list places for next year's state election with his own people. The camp behind Weidel largely came away empty-handed. The Weidel camp then left the hall in protest.

Reaction of the Federal Leadership

The federal party leadership had wanted to achieve an abort of the conference in Marl. It evidently fears exclusion from next year's state election. According to reports, the party's federal executive is now considering removing Vincentz and the North Rhine-Westphalian state executive from office.

However, the federal executive now apparently intends to establish an investigation commission in NRW. This body is to examine the finances, the membership admission practice, and the general functionality of the association. In response to a WDR inquiry, no side has so far been willing to comment officially on the further course of action.

Assessment from Academia

Political scientist Schröder from the University of Kassel, a former member of the SPD Basic Values Commission, told Deutschlandfunk that this was an open pitched battle, with threats and defamations, at the end of which only legal avenues remained. The AfD is currently held together primarily by external pressure, that is, by the campaigns against it. Within the AfD there is a permanent state of conflict in which no one begrudges the other anything. Schröder described the proceedings as "unusual for the party system" ("ungewöhnlich für das Parteienwesen").