German far-right boots regional leader over extremist ties
The far-right Alternative for Germany party has expelled one of its regional leaders for failing to disclose his ties to extremist groups.
The far-right Alternative for Germany party has expelled one of its regional leaders for failing to disclose his ties to extremist groups.
Senior party officials voted Friday to void the membership of Andreas Kalbitz, its chief in the eastern state of Brandenburg.
The party is under pressure to distance itself from extremists in its midst, after coming under
Last month the party ditched its chief spokesman after he allegedly declared himself to be a “fascist.”
Kalbitz, 47, has a
He is considered a close ally of Bjoern Hoecke, the party's leader in Thuringia state.
Kalbitz, who is also a member of the Brandenburg state assembly, told German news agency dpa that he plans to take legal steps against the party's decision to expel him.
Alternative for Germany came third in the country's 2017 national election but has recently lost ground in opinion polls.
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