AfD launches disciplinary proceedings against five state politicians

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's federal leadership has launched disciplinary proceedings against five prominent politicians in its North Rhine-Westphalia chapter. The move escalates an internal power struggle that has gripped the regional party in recent weeks.

According to Der Spiegel, the proceedings target Kay Gottschalk, Christian Blex, Christian Loose, Maximilian Kneller, and Sven Tritschler. The party cites alleged threats of employment-related consequences against members during the formation of the state's candidate list for the 2027 state election. Additionally, Loose is accused of attacking the personal honor of AfD federal spokesperson Alice Weidel by referring to her as "Alice Merkel" in an interview.

The conflict centers on the selection of candidates for the state parliament. Opponents of the regional party leader, Martin Vincentz, reportedly disrupted the meeting where the list was to be finalized. These members felt they were unfairly passed over for desirable positions on the list, leading to the current internal strife.