Bavarian AfD leader Reinhard Mixl challenges Stephan Protschka amid threats

AfD Bundestag member Reinhard Mixl announced his candidacy to replace Stephan Protschka as state party chairman in Bavaria. The internal contest has been marked by accusations of intimidation, including a leaked chat in which Mixl allegedly warned Protschka, "Nimm es oder streich die Flagge. Wenn die Jagdsaison eröffnet ist, badet man nicht mehr im Ententeich." Protschka and other officials have appealed to the federal AfD leadership, claiming external networks are trying to hijack the Bavarian branch. The federal board responded by banning political consultant Tom Rohrböck, as demanded by Protschka. The dispute occurs against the backdrop of the Bavarian administrative court confirming that the AfD remains under observation by the constitutional protection service, allowing intelligence‑type surveillance of the party. While the party's internal rules give each present member a vote at the convention, the battle reflects deeper divisions between moderate and more extreme factions within the Bavarian AfD.