The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution sees the "extremist currents" in the AfD strengthened since their federal party conference in June.

"In the new federal executive board there is no longer a dedicated critic of the formally dissolved right-wing extremist suspected case 'wing'," said authority chief Thomas Haldenwang to the news portal "ZDFheute.de".

"Therefore, it is currently not to be expected that the federal executive board will openly or even aggressively take a stand against the right-wing extremist 'wing' leader Björn Höcke and his supporters." "Höcke's position of power has increased again".

The AfD had elected a new leadership at a party conference in Riesa, Saxony: The 14-strong federal executive board is now led by Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel as dual leaders. None of the candidates that the moderate camp wanted made it onto the governing body. Christina Baum, member of the Bundestag, who is one of Höcke's supporters, is there for the first time.