Björn Höcke, the leader of the AfD faction in the Thuringian Landtag, is reportedly set to step down from his position in 2026. According to Table.Media, citing informed sources within the party, Höcke plans to relinquish the state leadership position after the next party convention in the fall of 2026. A close associate of Höcke stated, “He’s had it with always being the one against everything.”
Although Höcke is said to be primarily focused on giving up the state leadership position, he is also open to stepping down as faction leader, making way for new leaders. AfD insiders have mentioned Höcke’s desire for a “renewal” as his peak in this role has long been behind him. Höcke has held the position for over a decade.
Rumors of Höcke’s potential departure have likely been in the works since the summer of 2024, when he reportedly considered running for the Bundestag. This decision was met with differing opinions, with some radical AfD politicians in Berlin welcoming the idea, while others believed he should not abandon his “kingdom” in Thuringia for a position as a simple MP. It was ultimately Landessprecher Stefan Möller who ran for the Bundestag instead of Höcke, accompanied by a meeting with the federal leadership in Berlin.
A possible ban on the Thuringian AfD party could have also influenced Höcke’s decision to step down. Some AfD politicians had advised him to do so in order to avoid a ban. The German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) recently declared the initiative by Bundestag members for a ban on the AfD to be promising, stating, “The instrument of the party ban is created for a situation like the current one, as historical experience shows.”
Should Höcke indeed step down, three individuals are reportedly in the running to succeed him, including René Aust, the head of the AfD faction in the European Parliament, although Aust is said to plan to remain in Brussels. The other two candidates are Daniel Haseloff and Wiebke Muhsal, both members of the AfD faction in Thuringia. “He could put someone in who enjoys the administrative side of things more” a source from the party stated.