‘Statistically Almost Impossible’ – 4 AfD Candidates Have Died ‘Suddenly and Unexpectedly’ Before Key State Election

 

‘Statistically Almost Impossible’ – 4 AfD Candidates Have Died ‘Suddenly and Unexpectedly’ Before Key State Election

 

Another candidate of the right-wing anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has died unexpectedly ahead of the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), marking the fourth such case nationwide in recent months.

As German outlet WDR reported, AfD’s direct candidate for the council in Blomberg, 66-year-old Ralph Lange, died on 28 August. His death automatically rendered invalid polling cards and postal ballot documents already sent out, putting pressure on the city administration to reprint and resend them in time. Following a decision by the city council, the election in Blomberg will proceed as a by-election on the planned date of 14 September 2025.

Lange’s case is not the only one tied to the NRW local elections. Stefan Berendes, the AfD’s candidate for the city council in Bad Lippspringe, also died unexpectedly, triggering the same administrative procedures as in Blomberg. In both cases, AfD must now decide whether to nominate successors to the deceased candidates.

Similarly, AfD candidates in Schwerte and Rheinberg passed away just days before scheduled elections. In total, four such cases have occurred in a very short period in the run-up to the NRW local elections. German economist Stefan Homburg called the coincidence ‘statistically almost impossible’ in a post on X. – Hungarian Conservative

Our Take: This story is mostly in foreign press with questionable origins, but the machine fact checked the deaths, at least, as accurate: Ralph Lange (66, Blomberg), Wolfgang Seitz (59, Rheinberg), Wolfgang Klinger (71, Schwerte), and Stefan Berendes (59, Bad Lippspringe).

“Their deaths occurred within a short period, leading to logistical challenges, such as reprinting ballots and invalidating postal votes in affected municipalities. German authorities, including police, have stated there is no evidence of foul play, and natural causes are assumed in at least some cases.”

Four candidates from one party die a few weeks before their election, and the people in power (in an opposition party in the upcoming election) say there’s no foul play? Reportedly there aren’t any investigations. Economist Stefan Homburg calling it "statistically almost impossible."

That post in the screen grab is relatable. Being dismissed as a conspiracy theorist makes me want to probe even harder.

Deutschland; aber normal.

That’s what AfD wants… Germany; but normal. It’s possibly a deadly position.

– Ashe in America