The first deaths of local government politicians caused a stir throughout the country and became the cause of the network partly bizarre conspiracy theories. Initially, there were talk of four and later seven alternative politicians for Germany (AFD).
However, the investigation carried out by the “Bild” newspaper in cooperation with the local police showed that they died natural death.
Now the Electoral Commissioner of the Union North Rhine-Westfalia Monika Wissmann informs that he currently has knowledge of 16 deaths of candidates. Despite the speculation on the Internet, that this may apply to many AfD candidates, there are no tips on a significant increase in the number of such cases.
Of the 16 AFD deaths registered so far, after one social democratic part of Germany (SPD), social democratic alternative (SDA), a free democratic party (FDP), green, animal protection party, independent voters' community (UWG), free voters, referendum and one election group.
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Third -party fault
Deaths occurred in 14 different municipalities, such as Altena, Bad Lippspringe, Bad Munstereifel, Blomberg, Essen, Hellenthal, Krefeld, Markischer Kreis, Much, Remscheid, Rheinberg, Schverte, Solingen and Wuppertal.
On the Internet, speculation about the death of AFD candidates fueled, among others suggestions of individual AfD politicians. In the first four known cases in Rheinberg, Schwert, Blomberg and Bad Lippspring The police have already ruled out unnatural causes of death or the fault of third parties.
Due to the long period between the candidates' application and elections, the Act on local elections provides for the possibility of completing complementary elections if the candidate dies before the election day. Such supplementary elections can, if the schedule allows, take place on the day of the right local elections.
In the local elections in 2020 in North Rhine-Westphalia over 20 thousand fines. In 2024, about 220,000 died in North Rhine-Westphalia. people, on average 603 a day.
Electoral posters in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, September 3, 2025 (Expressing photo)Hesham Elsherif / Getty Images
Another German problem
At the same time, Germany is facing wave of crime. Crime with the use of violence has reached a new record. German services record further growth – by 1.5 percent up to 217 thousand 277 cases. The highest level in 15 years was achieved in 2023 – according to police crime statistics (PKS) at 2024.
Number of cases killings, inadvertently causing death and murder on demandwhich are included in crimes using violence, increased by 0.9 percent. up to 2,303 cases. In the case of “rape, sexual assault and sexual assault in particularly serious cases, including death” there was a significant increase in 9.3 percent. from 13 thousand 320 crimes. The indicator of dangerous and severe damage to the body also increased by 2.4 percent. Up to 158 thousand 177 events.
When it comes to crimes using violence, statistics also point to 15,000. 741 attacks using a knife. In total, 29 thousand were recorded. 14 crimes (mainly threats) associated with a knife attack.
The numbers increased, especially in Bavaria (1813 cases, increase by 110 %), North Rhine-Westphalia (7295 cases, increase by 20.6 %) and Brandenburg (793 cases, increase by 16.6 percent). – What does not work elsewhere – education, school, integration – ends at the police. It also means that the statistics reveal the state of our society-ourselves-said the Minister of the Interior of the North Rhine-Westphalia Herbert Reul (CDU).
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