In light of developments, it appears the potential AfD candidate has been denied the opportunity to serve as mayor in Ludwigshafen.
In a move that has sparked controversy and legal challenges, Joachim Paul, the AfD candidate for mayor in Ludwigshafen, has been barred from running in the upcoming September 21, 2025 election. The decision was made by the local election committee, which consists of representatives from major parties such as the SPD, CDU, FDP, and a local independent group, but notably excludes the AfD.
The electoral committee's decision was based on an 11-page letter from the State Interior Ministry, citing problematic public statements by Paul and associations, such as a meeting with right-wing activist Martin Sellner, leader of the Identitarian movement. The letter raised concerns that Paul may not always uphold the liberal democratic basic order as required by the Basic Law.
The AfD argues that the barring violates the constitutionally guaranteed equal treatment of parties and amounts to an attack on democracy. Sebastian Münzenmaier, vice-chairman of the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag and vice-chairman of the AfD in Rhineland-Palatinate, spoke out against the decision, stating that it is a violation of the constitutional guarantee of equal treatment of parties and an attack on democracy.
Joachim Paul, who entered the state parliament in 2016 and is considered one of the sharpest speakers in the AfD faction in the state parliament in Mainz, has announced plans to challenge the decision legally.
The exclusion leaves voters in Ludwigshafen with fewer choices, mainly candidates from the CDU, SPD, Volt, and an independent Social Democrat. The incumbent mayor, Jutta Steinruck, is not running for re-election. Klaus Blettner was proposed by the CDU and the Free Democrats, Jens Peter Gotter by the SPD, and Michaela Schneider-Wettstein by Volt Germany. Martin Wegner is running as an independent candidate.
The election committee is responsible for examining and deciding on the admission of election proposals. The city of Ludwigshafen requested a letter from the Ministry of the Interior in Mainz, which compiled public statements by Paul.
The decision took place against the backdrop of broader discussions about possibly banning the AfD at a federal level, reflecting political tensions around the party. Thus, the core reason for barring Joachim Paul’s candidacy was the official questioning of his constitutional loyalty, as assessed by intelligence bodies and upheld by the local election committee dominated by establishment parties, provoking significant controversy and legal challenge from the AfD.
The AfD recently achieved some notable election results in the Pfalz region, with the party coming in first place in the second votes during the federal election in February in the city of Ludwigshafen, ahead of the CDU. The party's lead in the second votes in the Kaiserslautern constituency caused nationwide attention. If no candidate receives more than half of the valid votes on September 21, a runoff election will be held on October 12.
Joachim Paul is a teacher from Koblenz and a member of the AfD since 2013. He expressed his disappointment with the decision, calling it an undemocratic election that robbed voters of their choice. The upcoming mayoral election in Ludwigshafen is scheduled for September 21.
The electoral committee's decision to bar Joachim Paul, the AfD candidate for mayor, from the upcoming election was based on concerns about his loyalty to the liberal democratic basic order, as alleged in an 11-page letter from the State Interior Ministry. This move has sparked controversy and legal challenges, with the AfD claiming it violates equal treatment of parties and amounts to an attack on democracy.
This decision, followed by broader discussions about a potential federal ban on the AfD, reflects political tensions and general-news surrounding the party. Meanwhile, the community policy and employment policy of the local election committee, comprised of major parties and a local independent group, have been put to question due to their exclusion of the AfD.
