AFD politician defends his case against being turned down as an OB candidate
Ludwigshafen Mayoral Election: Joachim Paul Excluded Amidst Constitutional Loyalty Concerns
Joachim Paul, the AfD candidate for the Ludwigshafen mayoral election, has been excluded from the race due to doubts about his loyalty to the German Constitution. The decision was made by a majority vote of the election committee, following a recommendation from the Rhineland-Palatinate State Interior Ministry.
The ministry's recommendation was based on an 11-page dossier compiled by the domestic intelligence service, Verfassungsschutz, which detailed reasons for Paul's exclusion, including his connections with right-wing activists such as Martin Sellner of the Identitarian movement, known for their anti-immigration views.
The electoral committee, consisting of members from various parties except the AfD, voted 6-to-1 to bar Paul. The chairperson of the committee was the current mayor Jutta Steinruck, who had earlier expressed concerns about Paul’s constitutional loyalty to the state Interior Ministry.
In response, Paul and the AfD party are mounting legal challenges against this decision. Paul argues the exclusion is politically motivated and a violation of democratic principles, as it denies voters a genuine choice. He asserts that the decision infringes on the constitutionally guaranteed equal treatment of parties and calls it an attack on democracy. AfD representatives accuse the ruling as unlawful and unconstitutional interference with their political participation and plan to contest it in court.
An application for an interim injunction has been filed with the Administrative Court in Neustadt/Weinstraße by the AfD state association in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Lisa Diener, the managing director of the City Council of Rhineland-Palatinate, explained that such a procedure is not uncommon. She noted that whether legal or procedural issues need to be clarified in the Ludwigshafen case remains to be seen. Diener emphasized that non-admission to an election is only possible under narrow legal conditions and requires a careful case-by-case review.
Diener stated that societal and political diversity has increased in recent years, making election committee decisions more complex. Cities can learn from each other by exchanging experiences in dealing with difficult individual cases or by close coordination with responsible authorities, according to Diener. She also stated that in cases of uncertainties and questions about the loyalty to the constitution of persons or organizations, the responsible Ministry of the Interior is the right contact.
The procedure of examining a candidate's eligibility is a case-by-case review, as outlined in the Municipal Code and the applicable administrative regulations. The examination of a candidate's assurance to adhere to the free democratic basic order is an essential part of the process.
The second-largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate will elect a new city head on September 21. The outcome of the legal challenges against Paul's exclusion will likely impact the election results.
The exclusion of Joachim Paul from the Ludwigshafen mayoral election, due to doubts about his loyalty to the German Constitution, has sparked political debate, with the AfD party accusing the election committee's decision as politically motivated and a violation of democratic principles. This case, under examination by the Administrative Court in Neustadt/Weinstraße, highlights the importance of policy-and-legislation in maintaining the free democratic basic order, a critical aspect of general-news reports.
The complexity of election committee decisions, especially in cases questioning a candidate's loyalty to the constitution, underscores the necessity for close coordination among cities and relevant authorities, as suggested by Lisa Diener, the managing director of the City Council of Rhineland-Palatinate. The Ludwigshafen case, therefore, sheds light on the intricacies of policy-and-legislation dealing with political participation, a key area within politics and general-news.
