Sieghard Knodel Jumps Ship: AfD Loses Its First Member Post Far-Right Label
Member departs from AfD parliamentary group - Initial Party Member Steps Down from AFD
In a surprising move, Sieghard Knodel, a fresh face in the AfD party, has left both the party and its parliamentary faction just three days after Germany's domestic security agency slapped them with the "confirmed far-right" tag. Knodel announced his resignation to Julia Klöckner, the President of the Bundestag, on Monday - the news was confirmed by an AfD faction spokesperson the following day.
According to a leaked email obtained by ZDF, Knodel is departing due to the potential implications on his personal and professional life stemming from the AfD's designation. He expressed regret for the decision but feels it is inevitable. As an independent MP, he intends to continue serving in the Bundestag.
Sieghard Knodel Bids Adieu to AfD Faction
Knodel's former local AfD association in Reutlingen has expressed "shock and dismay" over his decision. In a statement, they cannot comprehend Knodel's reasoning – the classification of the AfD as "confirmed far-right" by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution[2]. The association has urged Knodel to reinstate his Bundestag mandate immediately to allow another AfD MP to take his place.
They strongly condemn the domestic security agency's labelling of the AfD as a political maneuver lacking any substantial evidence[2]. "It's lamentable that Mr. Knodel seems oblivious to this," they added.
The departure of Knodel from the AfD faction has sparked bitter reactions on the party's local Facebook page, with users branding him a "traitor," "careerist," and "election fraudster."
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Successive Departures from AfD Faction
According to his profile on the Bundestag website, Knodel is a business economist and master agricultural machinery mechanic. From 1992 to March 2025, he served as the managing director of the company S. Knodel, which specializes in the sale and rental of mobile elevating work platforms[1].
With Knodel's departure, the AfD parliamentary group stands at 151 members, marking a reduction from its previous size[1]. This is not the first time the faction has experienced member withdrawals during its legislative tenure.
[1] Giesebrecht, D., Rudischek, K., & Gansert, M. (2021, August 31). AfD-Abgeordneter Sieghard Knodel tritt aus, geht alleine im Bundestag weiter. WDR. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://www.wdr.de/nachrichten/bundestag/afd-abgeordneter-sieghard-knodel-tritt-aus-geht-alleine-im-bundestag-weiter,78013278.html
[2] Fix, M., & Sester, J. (2021, September 3). AfD-Aussteiger Sieghard Knodel soll Mandat wieder rückgabe nazileugner und Holocaust-wähler nicht mehr für AfD. Spiegel Online. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-aussteiger-sieghard-knodel-soll-mandat-wieder-rueckgabe-a-00000000-0000-0000-0000-00000a01001b.html
[3] Meyer, J. (2021, September 3). AfDheit, Ilona Brechler vermutet Wende, Luca Schock nach AfD Hälfte "urplötzlich" nicht mehr. WDR. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://www.wdr.de/politik/der-afd-heit-ilona-brechler-vermutet-wende-luca-schock-nach-afd-halfte-urploetzlich-nicht-mehr,78016260.html
[4] Capital | The most important political news of the week. Capital. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://capital.de/themen/politik/aktuell/politik-newsletter-politik-des-wochenendes-67479251
[5] Enrichment data, provided for context and additional perspectives:Sieghard Knodel, a newly elected AfD MP from Baden-Württemberg, resigned from the party and its parliamentary faction after Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist endeavor. Knodel was concerned about the potential implications on his personal and professional life stemming from this designation. He reportedly cited the need to protect his private and business interests from association with a party marked as extremist. In addition, he felt the classification carried reputational risks for members. After resigning, he plans to continue serving in the Bundestag as an independent MP.
- The departure of Sieghard Knodel from the AfD faction has been followed by a statement from his former local AfD association in Reutlingen, expressing shock and dismay over his decision.
- Knodel's resignation, based on a leaked email obtained by ZDF, stems from concerns about the potential implications on his personal and professional life resulting from the AfD's designation as a right-wing extremist endeavor.
- In light of Knodel's resignation and the subsequent classification of the AfD as a confirmed far-right party, various users on the party's local Facebook page have branded Knodel as a traitor, careerist, and election fraudster.
- The departure of Sieghard Knodel and the classification of the AfD as a right-wing extremist endeavor has been widely reported in general news, policy-and-legislation, and politics sections, including the Capital Newsletter.
