A parliamentary delegate of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has reportedly been expelled from the organization following a hearing in Düsseldorf on Saturday. Matthias Helferich, a Bundestag member repeatedly embroiled in controversy linked to right-wing extremism, was the subject of the expulsion proceedings.
According to a report in “Welt am Sonntag” the regional arbitration court of North Rhine-Westphalia rendered the decision following a verbal hearing. Helferich himself confirmed to the newspaper that he was removed from the hearing room during the proceedings, describing the event as “a unique occurrence that will likely mark party law history.
Speaking about the ruling, Helferich expressed skepticism, stating the decision appears readily challengeable. He further criticized the process, characterizing it as revealing a problematic power structure. He argued his requests for recusal weren’t approved, his witnesses weren’t heard and the unusual removal from the hearing room highlights a need for urgent reform within the party.
Following the 2021 federal election, Helferich faced an office ban and was initially excluded from the AfD parliamentary group. This followed reports concerning text messages in which he allegedly referred to himself as “the friendly face of the NS” (presumably National Socialism) and alleged connections to the neo-Nazi scene. Despite these prior controversies, he was incorporated into the parliamentary group following the most recent federal election in February.
