AfD faces internal disputes and external scrutiny ahead of German state elections

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is dealing with several internal and external challenges. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the state party leader, Martin Vincentz, won a leadership contest, while the party's new youth wing in that state was classified as a suspected extremist case by Germany's domestic intelligence service.

In Baden-Württemberg, the AfD's lead candidate, Markus Frohnmaier, is facing accusations of nepotism. Meanwhile, the AfD's national parliamentary group expelled a member, and a deputy leader of the group, Stefan Keuter, had to give up his personnel management responsibilities.