Internal Disputes within Values Union - Rumors of Maaßen's Departure from the Political Party
The conservative small party Werteunion is currently embroiled in a power struggle, as suggested by recent developments. Hans-Georg Maaßen, the federal chairman of the party, has expressed his unwillingness to continue as a figurehead or leader of the party due to alleged "dirty tricks" behind his back.
Maaßen, who previously was a member of the CDU and joined the Werteunion to fill a gap between the Union and the AfD, has stated that he no longer considers a trusting cooperation in the current board possible. He made this announcement at a video conference with the state chairmen of the Werteunion on Tuesday evening.
The power struggle in the Werteunion party began when Sylvia Pantel, the deputy party chair, accused Maaßen of autocratic and party-damaging behavior. Pantel also alleges that Maaßen dismissed the elected board of the North Rhine-Westphalia state association and unlawfully appointed four followers. Legal action will be taken against Maaßen's actions regarding the North Rhine-Westphalia state association.
Pantel is not the only one accusing Maaßen. Jörg Meuthen, former AfD chairman, also joined the Werteunion in September 2024. Meuthen, along with Pantel, has accused Maaßen of seeking proximity to the AfD in public for months.
The Werteunion party was founded in February 2024 but has not achieved significant electoral success, with results ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 percent in state elections last year. Despite this, the party has been making headlines for reasons other than its political success.
Meanwhile, in Hamm, where the party has a presence, the city is experiencing a high rate of unemployment, the highest in a long time. However, there is support for families in Hamm for the school start. Detailed news from Hamm can be found in the provided source.
The summer fun in Hamm has had a positive balance, offering a much-needed respite for the city's residents. Despite the power struggle in the Werteunion party, the city of Hamm continues to move forward, focusing on providing the best for its citizens.
As the power struggle within the Werteunion party continues, it remains to be seen how this will impact the party's future and its relationship with other political parties.