berlin frauke petry co-leader far-right alternative germany say tuesday leave party major blow credibility two days surge third place national election anti-immigrant afd 12.6 percent vote germany election sunday become third-largest group parliament first far-right win seat bundestag since 1950s petry highest-profile figure afd moderate wing shock senior members say monday would sit afd bundestag low house rather independent member parliament husband another senior afd figure also leave party try change course realize reach point long possible petry 42-year-old chemist tell reporters eastern city dresden five children responsible ultimately able look mirror petry clash senior members argue party take moderate course make possible join coalition government husband marcus pretzell head afd western state north rhine-westphalia nrw also mp european parliament quit party become independent mp spokesman afd nrw say spokesman say pretzell another afd lawmaker nrw regional assembly also leave party make decision reason personal integrity monday four 17 afd lawmakers assembly eastern state mecklenburg-vorpommern announce bolt party become radical europe far-right party history infighting among various factions marine le pen leader france national front last week lose deputy policy differences alexander gauland alice weidel afd top candidates election campaign elect chair party parliamentary group tuesday gauland supporter bjoern hoecke senior afd member court controversy deny adolf hitler absolutely evil call berlin holocaust memorial monument shame weidel originally opponent hoecke critical lately weidel say expect lawmakers quit party add see step surprise us yet trend recognizable future parliamentary group senior afd member dirk driesang july found moderate group within afd call alternative centre petry say sympathize tell news magazine spiegel group could understand petry decision would follow footsteps say group would continue fight afd take moderate course add spin-off afd stillbirth driesang point example bernd lucke found afd leave 2015 due saw rise xenophobia form new unsuccessful party petry recognizable face afd swift rise past two years say monday could stand anarchistic party lack credible plan govern months petry urge afd soften stance prepare join coalition governments others want party stick opposition mainstream party refuse work afd also distance afd radical senior members say comment put voters gauland cause scandal election campaign say germans proud world war two soldier also say integration minister dispose turkey parent come afd convene berlin tuesday first parliamentary group meet gauland say discussions bundestag would echo party campaign clear talk campaign different hold parliament say co-leader germany 's far-right afd quit major blow