Ms Petry’s leadership has been rocked by infighting. Rivals on the extreme Right of the party have long wanted to force her out, while she has been locked in a struggle to expel Björn Höcke, a senior party figure who called in January for Germany to stop atoning for its Nazi past.

At a recent party event Ms Petry was reduced to tears when she came under sustained attack from a party rival.

But commentators have suggested any talk of retirement may be more a veiled threat to her critics than a concession of defeat.

As leader, Ms Petry has transformed the AfD from a fringe movement to a political force to be reckoned with, and most observers agree it would struggle to win the same support without her.

Others have suggested Ms Petry may be feeling the strain of fighting an election campaign and fending off her party rivals while pregnant.

A spokesman denied that she was considering stepping down as party leader.

“Frauke Petry isn’t thinking of retirement, she wants the AfD to be successful in the elections,” Oliver Lang told German television.