Two internal letters addressed to AfD federal chairpersons Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla appear to be putting pressure on the leadership of the party in Baden-Württemberg, according to reporting by Spiegel. One letter originated from Rüdiger Klos, a former state parliament member who is leaving the AfD, while the second came from several long-standing party members representing two local branches in the southwest region.
Klos detailed in his correspondence that the party has violated principles of the rule of law and internal democratic processes. He leveled charges against the regional leadership, led by figures such as Markus Frohnmaier and Emil Sänze, accusing them of silencing critics through expulsion procedures. Klos reportedly spoke of “purging actions like those in totalitarianism,” “Goebbels-methods within the party,” and “cult-like conditions.” Furthermore, he claimed that leading officials were “obviously incompetent” and warned that if they ever took on government responsibilities, “chaos would ensue for Germany.”
Klos himself served in the state parliament for ten years with the AfD, was a founding member of the state association, and held the position of Deputy State Spokesperson from 2015 to 2017. He had previously contacted the party chief executives to lodge complaints against Frohnmaier several weeks prior.
The signatories of the second, six-page letter primarily voiced concerns regarding concentrated power, cronyism (familial connections), and a lack of transparency in financial and personnel decisions. They described the party’s evolution as a shift “from grassroots democracy to an autocratic functionary party,” pointing to the establishment of “power cliques,” “profiteering groups,” and a “culture of unscrupulous self-service.” These individuals also called for an independent review of the state finances and the controversial Ludwigsburg inheritance, which has caused ongoing internal conflict within the party.
Despite these serious allegations, Markus Frohnmaier does not appear to be suffering damage as a result. During a recent state convention, he was confirmed in his position with over 91 percent of the votes, representing the best outcome ever achieved by an AfD regional leader in Baden-Württemberg.
