AfD parliamentary group chief: Deselected after file ends in Rhineland-Palatinate | EUROtoday

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As of: March 28, 2026 • 4:12 p.m

First the file outcome, then the deselection: In Rhineland-Palatinate, the AfD state chief surprisingly misplaced the parliamentary group chairmanship. What’s occurring with the occasion in Mainz?

On the morning of the inaugural assembly of the brand new AfD parliamentary group within the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament, a rumor is circulating: Is there a revolt in opposition to state chief Jan Bollinger?

It’s not simply observers who’re astonished. Just a number of days in the past, Bollinger celebrated the AfD’s best success in West Germany arm in arm with federal chairmen Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla – 19.5 p.c, rain of confetti, brimming with self-confidence.

Jan Bollinger appeared the day after the election along with his chest appropriately puffed out, describing himself as a “successful group leader and top candidate” who in fact desires to maintain this workplace.

New faces, new majorities

But simply three days after the state elections, which have been profitable for the AfD, the occasion environment is over – not less than for Jan Bollinger. The rumor is confirmed.

At the primary assembly of the brand new parliamentary group, Bollinger was clearly voted out. Only six MPs voted for him and 18 in opposition to him. Visibly struck, Bollinger then defined that the outcome “needs explanation to our members and voters.”

With the arrival of 24 MPs – beforehand there have been solely six left after the group had decimated itself by means of resignations – the group has modified basically. Lots of recent faces, new dynamics, new alliances.

A fall with a historical past

There has been criticism of Bollinger behind closed doorways for a very long time: he’s “career-hungry,” bossy, and resentful. Clear phrases that have been by no means overtly spoken.

Bollinger’s profession with the AfD begins as a press spokesman. In 2016 he entered the state parliament and have become state chairman in 2022. In this election, Bollinger acquired 75 p.c of the vote – for a lot of observers, an indication even again then that Bollinger’s energy base was relatively skinny.

The former AfD parliamentary group chief Michael Frisch is now talking in SWR political journal on the matter of Rhineland-Palatinate of a long-planned change of energy. The vote out of the parliamentary group was “not a spontaneous decision” however “prepared for a long time”. Bollinger finally turned a sufferer of the buildings that after introduced him to energy: “Now the wolves have eaten him.”

What affect did the federal AfD have?

There has been hypothesis within the occasion in regards to the buildings for a very long time. There is discuss attainable affect from the federal degree. At the middle is the Bundestag member and deputy parliamentary group chief Sebastian Münzenmaier. He factors that out SWR decidedly again: The resolution was made “absolutely independently” by the parliamentary group in Mainz.

Whether strings have been pulled or not, the result’s clear. Michael Büge has now moved to the top of the AfD faction in Rhineland-Palatinate. A person whose political profession started in Berlin, with the CDU.

In 2013 he was state secretary within the social affairs division of the House of Representatives when his membership within the Berlin fraternity “Gothia” turned a problem. This has shut contacts with the right-wing extremist scene, for instance internet hosting conferences of the right-wing extremist “Identitarian Movement”.

Büge is given a alternative. Either he chooses membership within the fraternity or the CDU. In 2013, Büge selected the placing connection and was then dismissed as State Secretary. Four years later, he utilized to change into managing director of the AfD parliamentary group in Mainz.

Right community off fraternities

A former companion within the AfD, ex-state chief Uwe Junge, remembers: It was exactly this “consistent” resolution in favor of the fraternity that satisfied him. Büge “immediately fit well into this faction,” he explains within the SWR political journal To the purpose.

Political scientist Markus Linden from the University of Trier additionally believes {that a} community of fraternity members is behind Bollinger’s downfall: “The centers of power in the AfD are in Rhineland-Palatinate with people from the fraternity, from strong right-wing radical connections.” Sebastian Münzenmaier is a part of it, “as is the new parliamentary group leader Büge. You just think you have a certain loyalty network.”

Strategic realignment?

For some within the occasion, the change might be greater than only a change of personnel amongst “string pullers.” Ex-country chief Junge sees Büge as a determine with whom the AfD might change into extra suitable sooner or later.

He believes it’s conceivable that the Union is not going to preserve its demarcation from the AfD perpetually and can then “look for personalities” with whom discussions are attainable. As a former CDU member, Büge is “a completely different personality” than Bollinger.

Conspicuous silence

The new faction chief himself has not but commented. And the official assertion from the group can also be placing: the identify Bollinger not seems in it.

The change of energy within the AfD faction in Rhineland-Palatinate is just not solely shocking, but additionally demonstratively silent – not less than externally.