AFD Dispute Court Delivers Verdict on Helferichs' Expulsion
Matthias Helferich, a prominent Dortmund MP and member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has been expelled from the AfD's parliamentary group following controversial statements. The decision was made by the North Rhine-Westphalia AfD arbitration court, and Helferich has 14 days to appeal the decision before the federal arbitration court of the AfD.
The offensive remarks, which were made on December 19, 2023 on the X platform, as well as in other posts and publications "at various locations", have been a subject of ongoing controversy. Helferich's statements, considered right-wing and human-hating by some, include advocating for the deportation of German citizens with a migration background and other categories of people using state coercive measures.
Helferich's controversial nature extends beyond his recent statements. In the past, he has been criticised for describing himself as "the friendly face of the NS", a reference to National Socialism. However, Helferich denies any connection to National Socialism.
Despite the expulsion, Helferich remains a member of the AfD faction in the Bundestag after the early election in February 2024. It is unclear whether he will be allowed to continue in this role, as he is not currently permitted to be part of the AfD faction in the Bundestag.
Helferich's expulsion was initiated due to alleged violations of the Basic Law, the German constitution. He has filed evidence requests and recusal requests against the judges, all of which were rejected.
Despite the controversy, Helferich has supporters within the NRW state association, who elected him to one of the five deputy positions on the board at a state party conference in 2024. However, the AfD state association around Martin Vincentz has tried to exclude Helferich from party offices and eventually from the AfD.
In response to the expulsion, Helferich expressed concern that he would not be "sent back to the AfD by a proper court at the latest." It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming days.
[1] Source: ntv.de and dpa. [2] Further information on Helferich's specific statements may be found in additional sources or news articles that directly address his remarks.
The expulsion of Matthias Helferich, a Dortmund MP and AfD member, from the AfD's parliamentary group has sparked discussions on the intersection of community policy, employment policy, and politics, particularly within the context of general-news articles and crime-and-justice debates. His controversial statements, like advocating for state coercive measures against certain categories of people, have raised concerns about human rights and societal harmony.
