AfD Reports No Evidence of Unnatural Deaths Amid Candidate Losses in German Election Campaign
As local elections approach in north Rhine-Westphalia,Germany’s most populous state,on September 14th,the campaign has been marked by the deaths of 16 candidates. Seven of those deceased were members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Martin Vincentz, the AfD’s regional leader in north rhine-Westphalia, stated on Thursday that the party has “no evidence of unnatural deaths” related to these losses. This statement comes after heightened online speculation, fueled in part by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel and Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter).
Vincentz suggested the intense scrutiny and speculation are a consequence of what he perceives as a long-standing, “ruthless battle” waged against the AfD, which is currently under examination by German intelligence services as a “suspected” case of right-wing extremism at the national level. “If even political murder now seems conceivable for manny people, this is a direct consequence…,” he stated.
Official data confirms the disproportionate impact on the AfD, with no othre party reporting more then one candidate death during the campaign.Police have ruled out unnatural causes in four of the sixteen cases.
A spokesman for the state’s election commissioner has attempted to address the public concern, telling dpa that the number of candidate deaths is “not significantly higher” than in previous election cycles, noting that candidate deaths occur in all elections. Approximately 20,000 seats are being contested in these communal and municipal elections, mirroring the scale of the 2020 elections.
The deaths of candidates can necessitate logistical changes, including the printing of new ballots or the association of special elections, possibly even on election day itself. The afd currently holds over 20% of the vote nationally, as demonstrated in February’s parliamentary election, making it Germany’s largest opposition party.