Two politicians from rival Alternative for Germany factions are set to fight a duel with swords after one challenged the other at a tense candidate nomination meeting.
The duel will take place between Matthias Büschges, a city councillor for the right-wing party in Cologne, and Jeremy Franosch, who is on the Düsseldorf city council, at a fraternity house on Saturday in front of a large crowd of spectators.
The pair will engage in a centuries-old type of fencing duel known as Mensur, or academic fencing, which is practiced by hundreds of traditional male university student groups across Germany, including the host fraternity Rhenania-Salingia, of which Mr Franosch is a member.
Divisions in the AfD in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia exploded at a convention in July, resulting in Mr Büschges – a supporter of moderate state chairman Martin Vincentz – challenging Mr Franosch, who is in the camp of right-wing lawmaker Matthias Helferich, German media outlet t-online reported.
Mr Franosch confirmed that the challenge took place, but said “I can’t offer a definitive opinion on Mr. Büschges’ motivation for doing this” and that it was not his intention to resolve political conflicts through duelling.
“After all, that’s what party conventions are for, which are far more exhausting in my party than any fencing match,” he said, and added that party colleagues had wished him luck.
Mr Büschges told the media outlet that the duel was a private matter and “has nothing to do with the party”.
Correspondence between the parties shows that a member of Mr Franosch’s fraternity wrote to Mr Büschges’ offsider, former AfD official Kris von Gierke, about the upcoming duel, stating that it was to take place at the Rhenania-Salingia and asking him to declare which arm the Cologne councillor will use.
Mr von Gierke responded by saying Mr Büschges would be prepared for the October 17 duel, and asked Mr Franosch’s camp to provide a venue large enough for the expected number of spectators.
Header image: Left, Jeremy Franosch. Right, Matthias Büschges (Instagram).
