The AfD’s deputy head described the deaths as “statistically conspicuous” and “hard to explain.”
Just before local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is reporting a series of candidate deaths that a senior member calls “statistically conspicuous.” Seven members, including five primary and two reserve candidates, have died in recent weeks.
The party reported the deaths between August 19 and September 3, prior to the September 14 elections. Media reports indicate the deceased were local AfD politicians, aged 42 to 80, from various municipalities.
Kay Gottschalk, the party’s deputy regional chairman, told Die Welt TV that there was “no indication” of foul play. Police also reported no evidence of foul play, according to ARD. However, the news sparked online speculation.
The regional election committee reports no irregularities. They are aware of 16 candidate deaths across a dozen parties and associations, stating that the numbers have “not significantly increased” compared to past elections.
AfD candidates account for approximately 43% of the reported deaths. Other affected groups each reported only one candidate death. Stephan Brandner, an AfD deputy head and Bundestag MP, described the numbers as “statistically conspicuous” and “hard to explain.”
Die Welt reports that approximately 20,000 seats are at stake in the upcoming elections.
The right-wing party has been gaining popularity in Germany. A mid-August poll suggested it had surpassed Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc to become the country’s most popular party.
The German domestic security service labeled it a “confirmed far-right extremist” group in May, a designation the AfD is challenging in court. The German justice minister considered a ban on the party later that month.