The dispute within the AfD has been simmering for weeks. Now AfD Bundestag member Rüdiger Lucassen is taking a direct confrontational approach with the party leadership. He has a recommendation for how to deal with the Greens.

In the news magazine FOCUS, AfD member of the Bundestag Rüdiger Lucassen sharply criticizes his own party leadership and the Thuringian state leader Björn Höcke.

With regard to the scandal surrounding the European top candidate Maximilian Krah, Lucassen says: “There are quite a few people, especially in the parliamentary group, who have long expected greater professionalism from the leadership.” The two party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla did not prevent Krah’s nomination as top candidate despite warnings and concerns.

We will not be able to stop Germany’s decline with court cases over ambiguous statements.” Lucassen advises his party to “exercise more self-discipline instead of selfishness.” This also includes the form of criticism of political opponents: “I can no longer stand the insulting statements against Ricarda Lang or Ms Baerbock, for example. They serve base instincts. That does not suit us.”

The Dresden lawyer, who made relativizing comments about the Nazi elite SS in a conversation with Italian reporters, was Björn Höcke’s preferred candidate. A few weeks ago, he was sentenced to a fine by the Halle Regional Court for using an SA slogan. Lucassen: “Björn Höcke has caused great damage with his form of revisionism and playing with concepts.