Planned visit to Russia will bring AfD leaders together: the power struggle between Weidel and Chrupalla seems to be intensifying.
Trouble has been brewing within the AfD for days – fueled by a question that has plagued the party for some time: How close should ties with Russia be? The latest trigger was a planned visit to Moscow by several AfD parliamentarians.
The “Spiegel” now reports how violent the discussions between the two wings have become. Terms such as “open declaration of war” are said to have been used in group meetings after Weidel criticized the trip to Russia.
MPs from his ward spoke of a belated demarcation – from Chrupalla’s ward, on the other hand, it was said that Weidel “stabbed his colleagues in the back”. The camps openly insulted each other
According to “Spiegel”, some people also suspected “late revenge” in Weidel’s statements: he reacted angrily to the fact that Chrupalla had the upper hand in the party’s internal dispute over conscription. The reintroduction application, which Weidel preferred, was abandoned due to pressure from the East German association.
“Misunderstanding”: Between certainty and doubt in leadership
Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with Chrupalla’s performance is growing in the Bundestag faction. Two defense politicians attacked him directly after Lanz’s broadcast and emphasized that Russia was indeed a threat to German security. The network around Sebastian Münzenmaier, who supports Weidel and wants to prevent the AfD from being seen as too close to the Kremlin, is powerful.
Some party officials are still trying to calm things down. According to “Tagesspiegel” information, Kay Gottschalk, deputy federal spokesperson, spoke about a “misunderstanding”: Chrupalla’s appearance on Lanz was not a reaction to Weidel’s criticism, because the program was already recorded in the afternoon. Other group members also emphasized that Chrupalla only learned about Weidel’s statement later.
Others view the situation more seriously. According to “Tagesspiegel”, a high-ranking lawmaker even questioned Weidel’s leadership role and warned that “predictability and reliability” were very important in politics. The fact that these characteristics are now being openly questioned in a dual leadership underscores how deep the rifts run in the AfD.
