Palmer criticizes exclusion of AfD candidates in Ludwigshafen!

Palmer criticizes exclusion of AfD candidates in Ludwigshafen!

“It’s all going well!” one could say in connection with the exclusion of the AfD candidate Joachim Paul from the mayoral election in Ludwigshafen. The mayor of Tübingen, Boris Palmer, who is currently on board with the Free Voters, has made a clear statement on this controversial issue. Palmer finds it “astonishing” that there is hardly any media coverage of this exclusion, which is based on a report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution that is supposed to prove Paul’s alleged right-wing extremism. The representatives of other parties in the election committee took the step to ban Paul from running for office on August 5th, which he questions as legally secure. This report is causing quite a stir, especially since Paul is certainly eligible to be elected as a member of the state parliament.

The fact that the AfD came second in the federal election in Ludwigshafen in February and that Paul had a good chance of making it to the runoff election makes the situation even more explosive. Palmer even warns: “If Paul prevails in court, the AfD could win politically.” In doing so, he questions the expertise of the voluntary local councilors and criticizes the double standards of political practice.

Constitutional Protection vs. Palmer

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has now classified the AfD as “certainly right-wing extremist”, and for good reason: there is an “extremist character of the entire party that disregards human dignity”. However, the justifications appear to Palmer to be nothing new and inadequate. He expresses concerns that the allegations against the AfD, such as those against Alice Weidel's politics, which represent a political escalation, are not enough to justify a valid exclusion. Rather, Palmer expects solid evidence of extremist plans within the AfD that could, for example, aim to abolish free elections.

For example, the report mentions that AfD politicians are spreading the conspiracy narrative of a “big exchange” among the population. These issues are not only controversial, but also part of a broader agenda targeting migrants and the LGBTIQ community. The 47.4% increase in right-wing extremist violence in 2024 shows that political tensions should not be underestimated. Last year alone, 37,835 right-wing extremist crimes were registered, including 1,281 violent acts.

Consequences for politics

In addition, there are increasing calls for the AfD to be banned because it is classified as a “massive threat to our democracy and society”. The Green Party state chairman Pascal Haggenmüller is committed to this step. Palmer himself left the Greens after expulsion proceedings were initiated against him. Meanwhile, Daniel Born of the SPD remains in office unscathed, despite a swastika incident on a ballot paper.

It therefore remains to be seen how the situation in Ludwigshafen will develop. After all, it could serve as a signal for the future political landscape in Germany, where the potential for right-wing extremist efforts remains high. There are currently over 50,000 members active in right-wing extremist parties such as the AfD, which should not be underestimated. At a time when the social climate is polarizing, it will be crucial to clearly see where the political path leads.

The situation remains exciting and we can only hope that the right decisions are made - in the spirit of an open and democratic society.