Thuringia’s AfD leader Björn Höcke does not want to run for party leadership at the federal party conference in Essen. His office confirmed a corresponding report by MDR Thuringia on Wednesday upon request. Höcke justified his decision with the three state elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg in the autumn, according to MDR.
“I feel well represented by a western and an eastern representative. Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are doing a very good job and, in my opinion, should continue to do so for another legislative period,” Höcke told the broadcaster about the previous leadership duo. “Whether the time has come for a single leader will then have to be decided.”
Höcke told MDR that he wanted to contribute to the content of the party conference. He reiterated his calls for a reform of the party structure and discussed a general secretary.
Before every AfD executive board election, there has been speculation for years as to whether the right-wing extremist from Thuringia will run for a top office. Höcke has always denied this. However, he is said to have considerable influence within the AfD, even though the right-wing extremist “wing” around Höcke has been formally dissolved.
At its two-day meeting on June 29 and 30, the AfD wants to elect a new executive board, among other things. Numerous organizations have announced their opposition to the party conference. There is also a conflict over the rental contract for the federal party conference in Essen. The city council is demanding that the AfD make a commitment not to use any right-wing extremist, criminal statements.
In Thuringia, the Höcke AfD has been classified as proven right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 2021 and is being monitored.