Criticizes the omission of the AfD contender in Ludwigshafen, as per Palmer's statement
In a significant turn of events, Joachim Paul, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate for mayor of Ludwigshafen, has been excluded from the upcoming election. The local election committee, in conjunction with the state's interior ministry, raised doubts about Paul's loyalty to the German Constitution due to his alleged ties to right-wing extremist figures and movements [1][2][3].
The exclusion was decided by an election committee comprising members from other parties (SPD, CDU, FDP), without AfD participation. The administrative court upheld the committee's decision, stating that judicial review of the election and candidacy is only possible after the election takes place [2][3]. This sets a precedent, emphasizing electoral stability over immediate judicial intervention, allowing political committees to exclude candidates on constitutional loyalty grounds if supported by intelligence reports [1][4].
Politically, this exclusion effectively removes the AfD’s main candidate from the election in a city of 170,000, narrowing voter choice to four other candidates from centre-left, centre-right, and left-wing parties [1][2]. The AfD and Paul have condemned the decision as politically motivated and suppressive, claiming it targets “the most promising party” and stifles opposition voices framed as right-wing extremist for non-leftist views [3][4].
Tübingen Mayor Boris Palmer, who chairs an electoral committee that usually decides on the validity of individual votes, expressed that he sees no grounds for Paul's exclusion from the election based on the intelligence service's statement [5]. Palmer emphasizes the need for watertight evidence that the AfD wants to overthrow the Basic Law before pursuing a ban [6].
Joachim Paul has applied to the Administrative Court of Neustadt an der Weinstraße for an interim injunction to be allowed to run in the election on September 21 [7]. The basis for Paul's exclusion was a constitutional protection report that compiled statements by Paul that were supposed to prove his right-wing extremism [8].
The exclusion of an MP from the election has raised concerns about democratic representation and double standards. A commenter criticizes the SPD and Alliance 90/The Greens for their treatment of political dissenters, comparing it to totalitarianism under the SED in the DDR [9]. Meanwhile, another commenter questions why the SPD politician, who defaced a ballot with a swastika, has not been thrown out of the state parliament [10].
Boris Palmer titled a Facebook post about Paul's exclusion as "@Calm before the storm." [11]. Palmer describes the lack of reporting about Paul's exclusion as "remarkable." [12] He questions the legality of excluding an MP from an election based on the expertise of honorary local councilors [13]. Palmer criticizes the exclusion of Paul as a case of double standards and considers it highly dangerous [14].
The potential AfD ban procedure could have wider implications. Palmer sees it as a harbinger of what a failed ban procedure in Karlsruhe could mean [15]. Boris Palmer thinks it is "likely" that the "AfD candidate will prevail in court." [16] However, the outcome of Paul's appeal remains to be seen, adding an element of uncertainty to the political landscape of Ludwigshafen.
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