AfD group in western Germany removes council member for controversial speech

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Herford, located in western Germany, has expelled Alexander Eichwald from its local council faction following a provocative speech he delivered over the weekend, according to a party spokesperson who spoke to dpa.

Maximilian Kneller, an AfD MP from Bielefeld, confirmed on Monday that Eichwald has been ousted. A city spokesperson in Herford also verified the information.

During an AfD congress in Giessen aimed at forming a new youth organization on Sunday, Eichwald delivered a speech that drew comparisons to Nazi-era rhetoric. The 30-year-old addressed attendees as "party comrades" and proclaimed, "We share our love and loyalty to Germany here together." He further stated, "It is and remains our national duty to protect German culture from foreign influences," a declaration that was met with strong criticism from the audience.

Kneller noted that the AfD's district association is preparing to initiate formal expulsion proceedings against Eichwald, who had been a party member for only a few weeks. "He was largely unknown and had previously acted without attracting attention," Kneller said, suggesting that his speech in Giessen may have been a calculated act, though whether it was self-motivated or influenced by others remains uncertain.

The AfD leadership acted swiftly and unanimously to distance the party from Eichwald. Kneller emphasized that all measures are being taken "to remove him wherever possible." Co-leader Tino Chrupalla told German broadcaster ntv that Eichwald is unlikely to remain in the party for long, describing his remarks as "very poor satire." Chrupalla added, "We don't yet know everything that might emerge, but he will not remain a member. That is certain."

Expulsion from the party will be formally decided by an AfD arbitration panel. The city council's website was updated on Monday to reflect Eichwald's status. Since the new city council was established a few weeks ago, he had been listed as part of the AfD faction. Until the committee reshuffle takes effect in mid-December, he will be recorded as an independent, according to a Herford city spokesperson.

Author: Sophia Brooks