{"id":2481961,"date":"2025-09-03T13:47:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seven-german-afd-politicians-die-within-weeks-of-each-other-ahead-of-elections\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T13:49:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:49:26","slug":"seven-german-afd-politicians-die-within-weeks-of-each-other-ahead-of-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seven-german-afd-politicians-die-within-weeks-of-each-other-ahead-of-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven German AfD politicians die within weeks of each other ahead of elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fseven-german-afd-politicians-die-within-weeks-of-each-other-ahead-of-elections%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2481961&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that seven politicians from the German right-wing party Choice f\u00fcr Deutschland (AfD) died within a span of two weeks ahead of local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.The deceased include five direct candidates and two reserve candidates, with causes of death mostly attributed to natural causes or undisclosed to respect privacy.While AfD leaders have hinted at possible foul play given the unusual timing, party officials urged caution against conspiracy theories. The deaths forced affected cities to invalidate early votes and reprint ballots before the September 14 elections. The AfD is currently experiencing a surge in popularity, becoming the most popular party in Germany in some polls, although it remains ostracized by other mainstream parties due to its controversial far-right reputation. The party denies extremist labels, claiming to support liberal democratic values, though critics characterize it as a coalition of right-wing factions. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Seven German AfD politicians die within weeks of each other ahead of elections<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2016904\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Seven <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3399059\/german-intelligence-designates-afd-extremist-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland<\/a> politicians died within two weeks of each other before local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2025-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">elections<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-freedom-caucus-backs-off-demands-for-deep-spending-cuts\/\" title=\"House Freedom Caucus withdraws demands for significant spending reductions\">prompting party leaders<\/a> to hint at foul play.<\/p>\n<p>Five direct AfD candidates and two reserve candidates in North Rhine-Westphalia died within 14 days of each other, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welt.de\/politik\/deutschland\/article68b815f046b61b4dcb0b7dac\/kommunalwahl-in-nrw-zahl-der-verstorbenen-afd-kandidaten-steigt-auf-sieben.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to<\/a> <em>Welt<\/em>. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3791211\/london-police-chief-speech-law-reform-graham-linehan-arrest\/\">London police chief calls for speech-law reform after Graham Linehan arrest<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3790954\/putin-china-russia-500-drones-attack-ukraine\/\">With Putin in China, Russia launches over 500 drones in attack on Ukraine<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3790877\/trump-xi-putin-kim-parade-conspire-against-us\/\">Trump tells Xi to give Putin and Kim his regards at parade &#8216;as you conspire&#8217; against US<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Wolfgang Seitz&rsquo;s death at 59 was announced on Aug. 21; the city of Blomberg announced the &ldquo;unfortunate death&rdquo; of 66-year-old Ralph Lange on Aug. 27; the city of Bad Lippspringe said 59-year-old Stefan Berendes &ldquo;died unexpectedly&rdquo; on Aug. 28; and the city of Schwerte announced that Wolfgang Klinger, 71, died &ldquo;unexpectedly&rdquo; on Aug. 19, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/far-right-german-afd-candidates-die-before-election-north-rhine-westphalia-2123763\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to<\/a> <em>Newsweek<\/em>. Kay Gottschalk, deputy state chairman of the AfD&rsquo;s North Rhine-Westphalia branch, confirmed the deaths of direct candidate Hans-Joachim Kind, 80, and reserve candidates Ren&eacute; Herford and Patrick Tietze to <em>Politico<\/em> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>In a Tuesday interview with WELT TV, Gottschalk pushed back on speculation that foul play was afoot.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We will, of course, investigate these cases with the necessary sensitivity and care,&rdquo; he said, adding that there was &ldquo;no indication&rdquo; that the deaths were the result of &ldquo;murder or anything similar.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gottschalk stressed that some of the dead &ldquo;have <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pre-existing medical conditions<\/a>.&rdquo; He called for a careful investigation &ldquo;without immediately getting into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-spy-balloon-speculation-is-the-new-misinformation\/\" title=\"Chinese Spy Balloon Speculation Is the New \u201cMisinformation\u201d\">conspiracy theory territory<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Police told DPA news agency that the first six deaths were either from natural causes or the cause wasn&rsquo;t being divulged to preserve family privacy.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his distancing from speculation of any possible nefarious demise, several AfD leaders openly called foul play.<\/p>\n<p>AfD co-chairwoman Alice Weidel reposted a post from retired economist Stefan Homburg, who said the deaths were &ldquo;statistically almost impossible.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">X owner Elon Musk also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1962209363113750882\" target=\"_blank\">boosted<\/a>&nbsp;his comments<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>The deaths prompted affected cities to invalidate early votes and scramble to reprint ballots before the Sept. 14 elections.<\/p>\n<p>The deaths come as the AfD sees a surge in the polls, with North Rhine-Westphalia representing one of its fastest-growing areas in western Germany. The 18-million-person state has seen the AfD grow from a measly 5.4% in May 2022 polls, the time of the last state elections, to a hefty 16.8% in the February elections, the BBC reported.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the February elections, which gave the AfD its best results yet, the AfD began polling as the most popular party in Germany. It came second in the February federal elections with 20.8% of the vote, taking 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag.<\/p>\n<p>Its growing popularity comes as every mainstream party rules out joining it in a government coalition. Every party to the left of the AfD has decried it as an extremist group and a threat to democracy.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3374803\/afd-becomes-most-popular-party-germany-first-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AFD BECOMES MOST POPULAR PARTY IN GERMANY FOR FIRST TIME<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The exact label of the AfD Party is itself a source of controversy. Left-wing critics openly accuse it of being a neo-Nazi group.&nbsp;The party has consistently rejected the &ldquo;far-right&rdquo; label, with its leaders&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2024\/11\/6\/germanys-far-right-afd-to-expel-members-over-links-to-militant-groups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">saying<\/a>&nbsp;the party stands for &ldquo;the liberal democratic order and has nothing to do with this suspected neo-Nazi grouping.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Other analysts take a more nuanced view, painting the party as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/how-populist-is-the-afd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">coalition<\/a>&nbsp;of broadly right<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musk-endorses-germanys-right-wing-afd-party\/\" title=\"... endorses ...y&#039;s right...wing ...\">-wing ideological factions<\/a>. Musk has <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1870198951531688200?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">characterized<\/a> AfD policies as &ldquo;identical to those of the US Democratic Party when Obama took office.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven German AfD politicians die weeks before elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2481962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25126395736286.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[47181,4498,3728,51007,11152],"class_list":["post-2481961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-afd","tag-deaths","tag-election","tag-german-politics","tag-politicians"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25126395736286.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2481961"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2481965,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481961\/revisions\/2481965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2481962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2481961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2481961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2481961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}