Overview

• An NRW state party tribunal ruled in first instance on July 5 to expel Helferich from the AfD over extremist conduct.
• The expulsion stems from allegations that he advocated the “remigration” of German citizens with migration backgrounds and dehumanized them as “Viecher.”
• Helferich has a 14-day window to appeal to the AfD federal arbitration court and may subsequently seek recourse in civil courts.
• This ruling marks the peak of a long-running feud between the moderate NRW leadership under Martin Vincentz and Helferich’s radical faction.
• Factional tensions risk preventing the AfD from finalizing candidate lists for the September municipal elections in Düsseldorf and across NRW.