AfD-Fraktion stellt selbstfinanziertes Gutachten zur Doktorarbeit von Mario Voigt vor

The well-known "plagiarism hunter" Stefan Weber, a lecturer at the University of Vienna, presented a second expert opinion in the Thuringian State Parliament on May 20, 2026, together with Björn Höcke, the AfD parliamentary group leader. This expert opinion had been commissioned by the Thuringian AfD parliamentary group. It concerns the doctoral dissertation of Thuringia's Minister-President Mario Voigt (CDU), which was examined by the Chemnitz University of Technology. In January, the university revoked his doctoral title, a decision Voigt is currently contesting. According to Weber, his new expert opinion claims to have found "125 new instances of plagiarism." The CDU parliamentary group also subsequently commented on the expert opinion presented by the so-called "plagiarism hunter" Stefan Weber, commissioned by the AfD parliamentary group. Their parliamentary group leader, Andreas Bühl, declared: “The joint appearance of Björn Höcke and the so-called plagiarism hunter Weber makes clear what has always been obvious: The AfD is conducting a political smear campaign, launched just before the last state election. Höcke and the AfD are only interested in damaging individuals and institutions. This has nothing to do with science.” The Left Party parliamentary group also commented on the press conference. Their parliamentary group leader, Christian Schaft, stated, among other things: “This press conference is a ridiculous and transparent PR stunt. It has nothing to do with credibility. We in the Left Party are awaiting the administrative court's ruling in this matter and will then consider the consequences. Trust is not just a matter of title. I expect the state government to finally address the pressing problems of the people of Thuringia.” Watch the AfD parliamentary group's press conference in the Thuringian State Parliament, including the subsequent questions from journalists, in its entirety here.