Rüdiger Lucassen has reportedly resigned from his role as the parliamentary spokesperson for defense policy within the AfD parliamentary group. Multiple media outlets reported this on Monday, citing a letter Lucassen sent to the parliamentary group chairs, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. Prior to this, segments of the group were allegedly preparing for his removal. Reports indicate that a vote on Lucassen’s replacement was scheduled for the specialized working group on Tuesday. The proposed motions reportedly cited “loss of confidence” “acting unilaterally” and a “leadership deficit”. Lucassen’s resignation appears to have preceded this decision. In his letter, Lucassen cited the upcoming state elections as the reason for his departure, stating he did not want personal disputes to undermine the party’s chances of success. He also mentioned that the internal debate regarding his positions had recently devolved into a “friend-enemy spiral”. This resignation is viewed as the culmination of a month-long internal power struggle within the parliamentary group. Back in late 2025, the parliamentary group board had already initiated disciplinary proceedings against Lucassen after he publicly criticized the stance of the Thuringia AfD state leader, Björn Höcke, regarding compulsory military service during a Bundestag speech. At its core, the dispute concerned the party’s overall direction on defense policy. Lucassen represented the West German-influenced faction, which advocated for conscription, rearmament, and a strongly state-supported course. In opposition were primarily representatives from East German state branches, who aimed to profile the AfD more as a peace party. Sources suggest that a concern underpinning the dispute was the fear that a clear pro-conscription stance could harm the party before the 2026 state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt. According to reports, Lucassen will remain a member of the AfD parliamentary group despite stepping down from his spokesperson position.
AfD Spokesman Lucassen Quits Defense Policy Role
