AfD council members in North Rhine-Westphalia schedule a private fencing duel
Two AfD politicians from Cologne and Düsseldorf, Matthias Büschges and Jeremy Franosch, plan to face each other in a protected fencing match.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, AfD councilors Matthias Büschges of Cologne and Jeremy Franosch of Düsseldorf have agreed to a private Mensur fencing duel. The event, scheduled for Saturday at a fraternity house in Düsseldorf, will be conducted with full protective gear and is expected to draw only a handful of party members. Büschges is linked to the moderate wing led by Martin Vincentz, while Franosch is identified with supporters of Matthias Helferich.
Both participants are members of student fraternities, and they emphasize that the duel is a sporting exercise, not intended to cause injury. The arrangement was reportedly made in a light-hearted moment during the party's candidate selection meeting. Neither politician has offered further comment on the planned match.
Why it matters
The duel highlights internal factional tensions within the AfD in a key German state.
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