Breaking: MP Sieghard Knodel Bails from AfD Faction Following Far-Right Label
Parliamentarian exits AfD political grouping - Initial Member Departs from AfD (German political party, Alternative for Germany)
In a surprising move, three days after the domestic intelligence agency labeled the AfD as an "undoubtedly far-right" party, its first member, Sieghard Knodel, has jumped ship. After a private meeting with the President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner (CDU), on Monday, Knodel tendered his resignation from the AfD parliamentary group and the party, report news sources. The departure was confirmed by an AfD faction spokesperson on Tuesday.
Knodel justified his decision by citing the need to protect his professional and personal space from potential backlash following the AfD’s classification. In an email obtained by ZDF, Knodel expressed his reluctance but considered the step necessary. He plans to continue his term as an independent member of parliament.
AfD's District Association Stunned by Knodel's Departure
Knodel's former AfD district association in Reutlingen expressed "shock and dismay" at Knodel's resignation. The district association questioned his justification, stating that it could not reconcile the classification of the AfD by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution with any valid reason for leaving. The district association suggested that Knodel should immediately relinquish his seat in the Bundestag to enable another AfD MP to take his place.
Labeling the upgrading of the AfD as a "politically motivated action with no factual basis," the district association argued that it was unfortunate that Knodel lacked the political acumen to recognize this. Angry reactions flooded the district association's Facebook page, where Knodel was insulted as a "traitor," "careerist," and "election cheat."
- Sieghard Knodel - A Business Economist with a Love for Agricultural Machinery
According to his profile on the Bundestag website, Knodel is a business economist and master mechanic for agricultural machinery. From 1992 to March 2025, Knodel served as the Managing Director of S. Knodel GmbH, a company specializing in the sale and rental of aerial work platforms.
As Knodel departs, the AfD faction shrinks by one member, now standing at 151 MPs. The AfD, known for its repeated departures during legislative periods, is disputing the extremist classification by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in a lawsuit[1].
- Related Terms:
- AfD - Alternative for Germany
- Domestic Intelligence Agency - Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
- Bundestag - German federal legislative body
[1] - Enrichment Data: AfD's Legal Challenge to Extremist Classification
- The Commission was reportedly informed of the progress of the negotiations on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, which has been overshadowed recently by the domestic intelligence agency's labeling of the AfD, a German political party, as an "undoubtedly far-right" party.
- The AfD's district association in Reutlingen, where Sieghard Knodel initially belonged, has reportedly suggested that he should relinquish his seat in the Bundestag to enable another AfD member to take his place, following Knodel's departure from the party.
- The policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news domains have been abuzz with discussions surrounding Knodel's decision to leave the AfD parliamentary group and the party, which he justified due to the potential backlash following the party's classification.
- With Knodel's departure, the AfD faction in the Bundestag, the German federal legislative body, now has 150 members, as Knodel plans to continue his term as an independent member of parliament.
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