What does it mean for the AfD that it officially classifies the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a “secured right -wing extremist endeavor”? There is now a first answer to this question: it loses a member of the Bundestag. Sieghard Knodel emerges from the parliamentary group and the party. The ZDF reported on this on Monday. In an email, Knodel justified his decision by the fact that he had to “protect his private and business environment” in view of the high class. He doesn't like to take this step, but he was inevitable.
Knodel, 64 years old, moved into the Bundestag for the first time in February. It was by no means considered to be secured that his place was 18 on the Baden-Württemberg state list for a mandate. In the AfD, you are therefore trying to downplay the importance of personnel. Knodel may be afraid of his own courage, said Baden-Württemberg's co-state chief Emil Sänze of the SZ.
There is a lack of understanding in the AfD
In the party, there is a step over Knodel's step, pronounced, astonishment. After all, it was known that the protection of the constitution has an eye on the AfD, several regional associations have been considered to be “secured right -wing extremists” for a long time. The evaluation of the entire party, according to the AfD, could not have surprised no MP. Knodel himself did not react to an SZ request.
The AfD has filed a lawsuit against the decision of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Nevertheless, the debate about possible consequences for the party revolves – and for its members. Could the high level have consequences for civil servants who swore their oath to the Federal Republic?
According to the Bundestag, Knodel is mechanic mechanic, not a civil servant. The lack of understanding in the party and its constituency of Reutlingen is correspondingly great. On SWR request, the Reutlinger AfD district association announced that the reason for leaving could not be “understandable”. The classification is “politically motivated”. Unfortunately, Knodel did not have the foresight to recognize that.
The party has experience in abandoning
Knodel also increases displeasure because he leaves the AfD, but wants to stay in parliament as a member of a member. “He should return his mandate,” demands Sänze, the AfD head of state. The fact that the classification of the protection of the constitution could drive even more deputies out of the party in the future is not considered too threatening scenario. “An isolated case,” he believes.
The AfD has a certain experience with MPs who turn her back on it. Two and a half years ago, Joana Cotar left the party, among other things because the AfD care for “dictatorial and inhuman regimes” such as Russia or China.
In October 2024, traffic politician Dirk Spaniel did it. After a lost power struggle, he accused the Baden-Württemberg state board of spreading falsehoods. Five members of the Bundestag left the AfD in the past legislative period alone. In the new legislative period, the AfD faction initially consisted of 152 MPs. Now it is only 151.
