AfD man Moosdorf faces punishment after attack on Frohnmaier

The AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag is once again in turmoil due to mutual personal attacks and differences of opinion about the political course. According to dpa, the parliamentary group's executive committee decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Matthias Moosdorf, a member of parliament from Saxony and former foreign policy spokesperson for the group.

Before a decision is made on possible measures - which could theoretically be a reprimand or a fine - the MP first has the opportunity to make a statement in accordance with the parliamentary group's rules of procedure.

The background to this is a letter from Moosdorf to his parliamentary group colleagues that has become public, in which he harshly attacks parliamentary group vice-chairman Markus Frohnmaier, the current foreign policy spokesman and chairman of the parliamentary group's foreign policy working group, and indirectly calls for his replacement.

Moosdorf expresses doubts about Frohnmaier's suitability

In the letter, which was first reported by "The Pioneer" and "Bild", Moosdorf expresses open doubts about Frohnmaier's suitability and foreign policy expertise and criticizes him in connection with so-called nepotism.

He believes it is urgently necessary to "critically review the staffing of the Foreign Affairs Working Group" and "define clear standards for suitability and conduct in the role of foreign policy spokesperson", writes Moosdorf.

"Incorrect assessments" and "gaffes"

He accuses Frohnmaier of "late and often incorrect assessments, but also correct gaffes" and refers, among other things, to his statement shortly after the start of the Iran war, according to which the government of US President Donald Trump "acted with surgical precision and clear goal orientation".

Moosdorf referred to the attack on a girls' school in Iran, which killed at least 168 schoolgirls, and accused his parliamentary group colleague of making such a cynical and inappropriate choice of words and damaging the foreign policy credibility of the parliamentary group. "Bild" had quoted Frohnmaier on the letter as saying: "Anyone who knows Mr. Moosdorf can make up their own mind. We will discuss everything else internally."

Moosdorf himself was criticized

Moosdorf himself was criticized within the parliamentary group during the last legislative period as foreign policy spokesperson. It was about a trip to Russia and connections to Moscow. The cellist had accepted an honorary professorship at the internationally renowned Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow. The academy is funded by the Russian Ministry of Culture.

Just a week ago, former German army officer Rüdiger Lucassen resigned as the AfD parliamentary group's defense policy spokesperson and head of the parliamentary group's defense working group after long internal disputes. It was about his leadership style, but also about a substantive dispute over the question of the AfD's orientation with regard to the Bundeswehr, compulsory military service and the understanding of the state.