Overview
- Party leaders in Saxony-Anhalt initiated expulsion proceedings against Bundestag member and ex–state general secretary Jan Wenzel Schmidt and separately against state treasurer Matthias Lieschke.
- Schmidt’s party rights were withdrawn with immediate effect as the board cited fundamental breaches of internal order, with the case to be referred to the state arbitration court.
- Schmidt rejects the allegations as an internal campaign, says he will contest the move, and has signaled he will present documents to support his claims in January.
- Lieschke is accused of secretly recording a district leadership video meeting and passing the file to Schmidt, which Schmidt denies receiving; Lieschke has not commented.
- Following Schmidt’s accusations of falsified travel claims and nepotism among AfD state MPs, the Landtag administration said it will review travel-cost filings, a development landing months before the 6 September state election where polls show the AfD ahead.