The ultra-right Der Flügel branch of the German populist party AfD is lifting itself. German media, including Der Spiegel. The closure was decided under pressure from the AfD board.
Der Flügel is a movement without its own party structure that is estimated to represent at least 20 percent of the nationwide AfD members. Björn Höcke and Andreas Kalbitz, the chairmen of the AfD group chairmen in the federal states of Thuringia and Brandenburg, are in the lead.
Last week it was announced that the German security service Der Flügel officially under the control had asked. According to the agency, supporters propagate xenophobia, are anti-democratic and downplay the Nazi crimes of World War II.
Combative
The AfD board sat with the extremist wing in its stomach and urged Der Flügel to disband as of late April. This has now been heeded.
It is still unclear whether the cancellation will lead to the departure of AfD members from the party, whether or not mandatory. In an interview with a friend online medium, Höcke says at least that he will stay on. “Now it will only go faster. Our work extends beyond Der Flügel. Andreas Kalbitz, I and all other Flügel politicians will continue our political course in the spirit of the AfD.”
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