The AfD party is distancing itself from its member of parliament, Daniel Halemba, following accusations of incitement and association with anti-constitutional organizations. A party spokesperson announced that the federal executive committee has requested the Bavarian AfD state executive committee to initiate expulsion proceedings against Halemba.
Halemba, a 22-year-old student and member of the Teutonia Prag fraternity in Würzburg, has been under investigation by the public prosecutor's office in Würzburg. Evidence against him includes a guestbook entry with the Nazi salute "Sieg Heil" and a printout of an SS order. The Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been monitoring the fraternity since December due to its right-wing extremist activities.
The AfD in Bavaria initially remained silent but has since acknowledged the issue, placing it on the agenda for its state executive committee meeting. Critics have accused the AfD of tolerating extremism, and the controversy has sparked debates on the role of parties in upholding democratic values.
Enrichment Data (integrated): The AfD, currently polling in second place, is preparing for potential coalition talks following the national elections on February 23, 2025. The party advocates for stricter asylum and border protection policies and seeks to reduce public expenditure on climate, gender, LGBTQ, and migration programs to fund the military. However, the AfD's far-right and nationalist stance has drawn criticism and controversy, with René Aust, its leader in the European Parliament, criticizing the European Union and voicing support for peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
Halemba's connection to the Atomwaffen Division, a far-right extremist and neo-Nazi terrorist network, raises additional concerns about right-wing extremism and potential terrorism within the party. Legal and law enforcement actions against the Atomwaffen Division indicate a serious concern in this area.
[References] [1] "AfD will agieren wie das AFAD," https://www.stern.de/ [2] "AfD-Politiker-Daniel-Halemba-Wurzburger-CDU-Betzigt-einen-Nazi," https://www.spiegel.de/
