Jan Wenzel Schmidt Expelled from AfD Parliamentary Group Amid Internal Disputes

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group in the Bundestag has removed Jan Wenzel Schmidt from its ranks following a vote among its members. According to information from internal sources, the group leadership proposed Schmidt's expulsion, citing behavior deemed detrimental to the group. A spokesperson confirmed that the decision was made in response to concerns regarding Schmidt's conduct, which allegedly included actions perceived as damaging to the parliamentary group.

This development comes amid ongoing discussions about alleged nepotism within the AfD. The party leadership previously indicated that Schmidt's position was under review due to these internal disputes. Schmidt, who previously served as the party's general secretary in Saxony-Anhalt from 2022 until early 2025, has denied any wrongdoing. He argued that structural reforms are necessary within the party and criticized the personalization of internal problems. Despite his expulsion from the parliamentary group, Schmidt stated he remains committed to supporting the AfD's political aims and serving its voters.

Schmidt has faced allegations that he leveraged his Bundestag mandate for personal business interests, including establishing relationships with entities in China. Additionally, he has been accused of exerting undue pressure on fellow party members. In response, Schmidt has not only rejected these claims but also countered with accusations of nepotism directed at colleagues within the party's Saxony-Anhalt division. He pledged to provide evidence supporting his assertions and has publicly described the internal party dynamics as a network for mutual benefit, alleging that positions and employment opportunities are exchanged among members for personal gain.

The AfD at both state and national levels had already initiated exclusion proceedings against Schmidt, with the case now under review by the party's arbitration panels. The process is ongoing, and a final decision is yet to be reached.

According to Bernd Baumann, the group's First Parliamentary Secretary, Schmidt's public statements were considered to have significantly tarnished the reputation of the parliamentary group and its members. The official application for Schmidt's removal argued that discussing alleged or actual internal affairs in the media was unacceptable and harmful to the party's image.

Following Schmidt's departure, the AfD parliamentary group now comprises 150 members, having lost its second member since the last federal election. Previously, Sieghard Knodel from Baden-Württemberg resigned in response to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifying the AfD as a proven right-wing extremist organization--a classification that has since been overturned by a court decision.

Meanwhile, internal scrutiny continues regarding other cases of alleged nepotism within the party. Stefan Keuter, deputy head of the AfD parliamentary group, recently retained his Bundestag post despite controversy surrounding the employment of his partner in his office. After questions about this arrangement, Keuter relinquished his role as head of personnel but remained in the group's leadership following a supportive vote from members.

Similar issues have emerged in other federal states. In Lower Saxony, the AfD's regional group expelled Martina Uhr due to claims that she employed her partner and his daughter using public funds. Uhr has denied the personal relationship with her employee, and the group has called for her to relinquish her parliamentary mandate, though no formal request for expulsion from the Bundestag group has been submitted.

According to Bundestag regulations, members are prohibited from employing relatives, spouses, or former partners at the taxpayer's expense. This rule extends to registered life partners, ensuring that public funds are not used to benefit family members of parliamentarians.