NRW-AfD zerlegt sich: Weidels Unterstützer verlassen den Saal

The North Rhine-Westphalian branch of the AfD held its party congress in Marl, where tensions between factions led to a dramatic split. The meeting saw supporters of Alice Weidel, one of the national party’s top leaders, walk out of the hall after the decision to continue with the list of candidates for the state election in 2027 was made. This move came despite calls from the party leadership to halt the process, which they argued could lead to legal challenges over the final list. Instead, the local branch proceeded with the candidate selection, resulting in a clear alignment of power with Martin Vincentz, the regional leader. The conflict had been brewing for days, pitting two rival factions against each other within the AfD. One side, aligned with Vincentz, includes Tino Chrupalla, while the other, led by Matthias Helferich, supports Alice Weidel. Both groups have long-standing grievances with Vincentz, who accused them of attempting to create a list favorable to the national leadership. In a letter obtained by Frankfurter Allgemeine, Vincentz criticized both Weidel and Chrupalla for seeking to generate a list that would align with the federal executive's interests rather than representing the will of the members. Helferich has been a vocal opponent of Vincentz for years, once describing himself as “the friendly face of National Socialism” and referring to migrants as “beasts.” His stance has drawn criticism, including a disciplinary process that failed to remove him from the party. Currently serving as a member of parliament, Helferich recently challenged Klaus Esser for a high-ranking position on the electoral list. The contest became a symbolic showdown between the two factions, with both sides accusing each other of disloyalty. Esser ultimately won the spot, boosting support for Vincentz’s faction, though concerns remained about potential dominance by his group during subsequent selections. To counter this perceived threat, Helferich’s allies orchestrated a strategy known internally as “Operation Filibuster,” involving more than 90 candidates being placed in the 22nd position on the list. This tactic aimed to delay the official list and prevent Vincentz’s influence from growing unchecked. Evidence of coordination emerged through chat logs shared with Frankfurter Allgemeine, revealing how members organized their efforts. Among those involved was Sven Tritschler, a newly elected deputy national leader close to Alice Weidel. According to a delegate from Helferich’s camp, the motivation behind the maneuver included financial incentives, as current parliamentary representatives receive around 12,000 euros monthly, along with office positions. With twelve seats currently held in the state legislature, the party hopes to double that number following the upcoming election in April. Following the disruption caused by the filibuster, a written exchange took place between the national and regional leaderships. A proposed mediation effort by Weidel and Chrupalla failed quickly, as Vincentz accused the mediator of bias. In a response sent on Friday morning, Vincentz expressed further frustrations, although the content of the message was not fully disclosed. Meanwhile, Weidel and Chrupalla wrote a strongly worded letter criticizing Vincentz, citing reports of intimidation and pressure on delegates. They warned that any list decided under these conditions might be invalidated, similar to the situation in Bremen in 2023, where formal irregularities led to rejection. Their critique focused heavily on Vincentz, with only a brief mention of Helferich and his allies, suggesting that the lack of serious candidates undermines the party’s reputation. As the party moves forward, the internal divisions remain unresolved, with the risk of further fragmentation looming. The outcome of this struggle could significantly impact the AfD’s performance in the upcoming elections and its standing within the broader political landscape.