Arbitration court orders removal of Helferich from AfD party - Arbitration Court Decision on Helferichs' Expulsion by the AfD
In a significant development, the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) AfD state association has decided to expel Dortmund Bundestag MP Matthias Helferich. The decision comes amidst controversy surrounding Helferich's past statements, which have been deemed to contradict the party's principles and code of conduct.
The expulsion was triggered by Helferich's advocacy for the expulsion of German citizens with a migration background and other person categories, using state coercive measures as a political goal. These statements were made on various platforms, including the X platform on December 19, 2023.
Helferich, who entered the Bundestag via the NRW state list of the AfD in the fall of 2021, has been a subject of debate due to his earlier controversial statements in older chats. His election to one of the five deputy positions on the board at a state party conference in 2024 and his membership in the AfD faction in the Bundestag since the early Bundestag election in February have not diminished the controversy.
In response to the expulsion, Helferich has 14 days to appeal the decision to the AfD's federal arbitration court. If the internal processes fail, he might consider taking legal action against the party.
The state association's initiative to expel Helferich and the subsequent decision have been under observation by the German Press Agency. The expulsion process follows the general pattern in political parties, where expulsion decisions are made due to behaviours or actions that contradict the party's principles, policies, or code of conduct.
In such cases, the member might first seek an internal review within the party, appealing to higher levels of leadership or the party's disciplinary committee. Many parties have formal procedures for appeals, which might involve a hearing or the submission of written arguments. In some cases, parties may seek external arbitration or mediation services to resolve disputes.
Helferich's case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to a party's principles and code of conduct. As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Helferich responds to the expulsion and whether he will appeal the decision.
The expulsion of Matthias Helferich, a Dortmund Bundestag MP, by the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) AfD state association is a result of his advocacy for expelling certain German citizens and other person categories using state coercive measures, a stance that contradicts the party's principles and code of conduct. If Helferich decides to appeal the expulsion, the case will follow the usual political pattern, where members may initially seek an internal review and then submit to formal procedures for appeals within the party.
