In the lead-up to key state elections, Germany has seen an unusual series of political deaths that has sent social media into a frenzy.
Sixteen candidates running in North Rhine-Westphalia—the country’s largest state—have passed away, leaving voters, parties, and election officials scrambling for answers.
Who Has Been Affected
Of the 16 deceased, seven were candidates for the right-wing AfD party.
The rest represented a wide mix of parties: one each from SPD, SDA, FDP, Greens, Animal Welfare Party, UWG, Free Voters, Referendum Party, and an independent voter group.
AfD’s surge in popularity since 2013 has made the deaths particularly newsworthy, and conspiracy theorists were quick to spread rumors online.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel added fuel to the fire by sharing claims from retired economist Stefan Homburg, who said the number of deaths was “statistically almost impossible.”
Police, however, have confirmed that the first four deaths showed no signs of foul play or unnatural causes.
Election Disruptions and Legal Provisions
The deaths have already affected the electoral process.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Municipal Elections Act allows by-elections if candidates pass away, which can even take place on election day if needed.
With more than 20,000 candidates running for local seats in a state of 18 million people, the timing of these events has created logistical headaches.
AfD’s Rise and Controversial Backing
The AfD has grown dramatically in recent years. In the last state election, the party secured just 5.4% of votes in a region hit hard by job losses.
But in last year’s federal elections, it captured 16.8%, and many expect similar results this year.
The party has also attracted international attention, including support from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who recently tweeted: “Either Germany votes AfD, or it is the end of Germany.”
AfD Classified as Extremist
Earlier this year, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency officially labeled AfD an extremist organization threatening democracy.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) said the party, which came second in February’s federal election, is a “proven right-wing extremist organization.”
While some AfD branches, like its youth wing, were already classified as extremist, this is the first time the party has been formally designated at the national level.
The classification doesn’t ban the party, but it allows authorities to intensify surveillance, including undercover informants and monitoring communications.
Allegations of Racism and Constitutional Violations
A 1,000-page BfV report accuses AfD of violating core constitutional principles such as human dignity and the rule of law.
The agency said the party promotes an ethnicity- and ancestry-based concept of the German people, aiming to exclude certain population groups and assign them legally subordinate status.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser added that AfD discriminates against citizens with a migration background, treating them as second-class Germans.
She denied claims of political bias in the intelligence findings, emphasizing that the classification reflects documented behavior and statements within the party.
The Road Ahead
As North Rhine-Westphalia prepares for elections, the deaths, conspiracy theories, and extremist classification of AfD are shaping a tense and unpredictable political environment.
With by-elections, ongoing debates over party legitimacy, and heightened public scrutiny, voters and candidates alike face a complex and unprecedented scenario.