Internal Dispute in Values Union - Speculation Surrounding Maaßen's Party Departure

In a dramatic turn of events, the conservative minor party, Werteunion, is currently embroiled in a power struggle. The conflict stems from a leadership feud between Sylvia Pantel, the deputy federal chairwoman, and Hans-Georg Maaßen, the federal chairman.

The latest development in this saga was Pantel's accusations against Maaßen, which she made in a video message on the X platform. Pantel claimed that Maaßen has sought proximity to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in public for months and has posted disturbing hate content on various social media channels. She also accused Maaßen of autocratic and party-damaging behaviour.

Maaßen, who was previously a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), joined the Werteunion in 2023 with the intention of filling the gap between the Union and the AfD. However, his tenure as the party's leader has been marked by controversy. Last Tuesday, Maaßen dismissed the elected board of the North Rhine-Westphalia state association from their offices. Pantel, who was previously the state chairwoman in North Rhine-West Westphalia, has announced legal action against this action.

Maaßen has also been accused of illegally appointing four followers in place of the dismissed board, according to Pantel. In response, Maaßen has accused parts of the board of a coup and has hinted at a possible withdrawal from the party.

The Werteunion party, founded as a political party in February 2024, has yet to achieve significant electoral success. Results from the 2022 state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg showed results ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 percent for the party. Jörg Meuthen, former AfD chairman, also became a member of the Werteunion in September 2024.

Despite the ongoing power struggle, it remains to be seen how this will affect the future of the Werteunion and its standing in German politics.

Internal Dispute in Values Union - Speculation Surrounding Maaßen's Party Departure