Björn Höcke, the prominent AfD candidate in Thuringia, has been forced to put his election campaign on hold due to some unspecified "personal health issues." The news came as a surprise, as Höcke wasset to participate in the final debate round with other leading contenders. The cancellation came at a critical juncture, just days before the Thuringian state election, where the AfD, led by Höcke, was polling at an impressive 30%.
The first cancellation notice came on Monday, with Höcke citing "personal matters" for the withdrawal from the ntv and Antenne Thuringia debate. However, he rescinded his decision on Tuesday and apologized for the inconvenience, only to cancel again the following day. In his place, Stefan Möller, co-state chairman of the AfD Thuringia, will represent the party in the debate, which will be broadcast live on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Analysts believe that Höcke's nervous performance in previous TV debates might have influenced his decision to withdraw from the final round. Despite this, the AfD maintains its impressive poll ratings, reflecting the party's growing influence in eastern Germany.
The AfD and Höcke have been no strangers to controversy. Höcke has been convicted twice in 2024 for using a banned slogan of Hitler's paramilitary Sturmabteilung (SA). His comments about the Holocaust memorial in Berlin and his use of Nazi-era phrases have also raised accusations of antisemitism and neo-Nazism.
Despite the cancellations, Höcke is expected to campaign in Nordhausen on Thursday afternoon. The party has not announced any changes to the plans, as of now.
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