The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in North Rhine-Westphalia faces potential disqualification from the upcoming federal elections due to alleged membership fraud.

Concerns have arisen after it was discovered that only five out of 19 new members in the Düren district actually resided at their claimed addresses.

This manipulation was reportedly orchestrated by Klaus Esser, the former state manager of the AfD in North Rhine-Westphalia, who is also accused of falsifying his resume and certificates.

Although Esser has resigned from his positions, he denies the allegations, calling them a campaign against him.

The party fears that if the February state party conference, where the board was elected, is contested, it could lead to significant delays in preparing for the elections.

The national board is closely monitoring the situation, with further discussions planned in upcoming meetings.

This internal turmoil echoes past issues, such as the near disqualification of the Bremen AfD in previous elections due to internal disputes.