- Previous head of the party and political collective, Frisch, decides to depart from the AfD.
Previously serving as the AfD's state and faction leader in Rhineland-Palatinate, Michael Frisch, aged 66, departed from the party yet aims to maintain his position in the state parliament. "All attempts to instigate changes within the state party have been unsuccessful," Frisch stated in Mainz, justifying his decision. "Instead, the issues I had raised have persisted and intensified. The AfD in Rhineland-Palatinate has transformed into an elite-run party where a small group holds the reins."
Critical views and open dialogue are no longer appreciated within the party, he asserted. "Self-promotion and loyalty are prioritized over individual integrity and capability, self-serving perspectives and material gain take precedence," he added. Furthermore, there are ideological shifts within the party that Frisch can no longer endorse. "There have been consistent drifts to the right that go unchecked," he mentioned.
Following a power struggle, Frisch was ousted as the AfD's faction leader in the state parliament in Mainz towards the end of 2023. Jan Bollinger replaced him. Frisch subsequently parted ways with the AfD's state parliamentary faction, accusing Bollinger of breaking promises. Nonetheless, he retained his seat as a legislator. Previously, Bollinger had taken over as the Rhineland-Palatinate AfD party chairman from Frisch.
Regardless of maintaining faith in the core program of the AfD, Frisch identified no reason to remain a party member, according to his statement. Consequently, after over a decade of affiliation, he announced his separation from Alternative for Germany. "My role in the state parliament remains unaltered, and I shall continue my local political activities in Trier."
Despite his ongoing commitment to the AfD's core principles, Frisch found it impossible to attend the party's annual holiday gathering due to his differences with the current leadership. The absence of open discourse and promotion of self-interest within the party's ranks made participating in the party's social events a stark contradiction to his personal values.
