Former AfD Members Seek Recognition as New Parliamentary Group

Three ex-AfD lawmakers in Rhineland-Palatinate push for approval of their group 'Drei Farben – mehr Freiheit' after a previous rejection.

Michael Frisch, Matthias Joa, and Martin Louis Schmidt, all former members of the AfD, have submitted a new request to form a parliamentary group in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament.
Their initial attempt was rejected earlier this year due to concerns about the group's political homogeneity, as some members were still affiliated with the AfD at the time.
The three politicians have since left the AfD, with the last departure occurring in August 2024, and they now claim their group meets the required cohesion standards.
The proposed group, named 'Drei Farben – mehr Freiheit,' is tied to 'Team Freiheit,' an initiative led by former AfD chair Frauke Petry, which aims to establish a new political party in the future.
If approved, this would be the second parliamentary group in the state parliament, following a similar move by four Freie Wähler members who recently secured group status.