NextFin news, Sixteen candidates for the upcoming local elections in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia have died in recent days, including seven from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The deaths occurred in the weeks leading up to the elections scheduled for Sunday, September 14, 2025, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. The candidates represented various political parties, including the AfD, Social Democratic Party (SPD), Free Democratic Party (FDP), Greens, Animal Welfare Party, and others.
German police have investigated the initial four deaths among AfD candidates and found no evidence of foul play, attributing the deaths to natural causes, though specific details remain private out of respect for the families. Investigations into the other deaths are ongoing.
The sudden and multiple deaths have sparked widespread conspiracy theories across social media platforms and among some public figures. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel cited retired economist Stefan Homburg, who described the number of deaths as "statistically almost impossible." These claims have been amplified by known disinformation operators, including British far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk, who previously endorsed AfD in the federal elections earlier this year.
The string of deaths has also disrupted the election process. Ballots had to be redrawn and reprinted to account for the deceased candidates, and some postal voters will be required to vote again. Approximately 20,000 candidates are contesting the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Authorities and fact-checking groups such as EuroVerify have identified and debunked hundreds of social media posts spreading unfounded suspicions about the deaths, which have garnered tens of millions of views.
The North Rhine-Westphalia elections will decide district, municipal, and city councils, as well as some mayoral positions. The police continue to monitor the situation and have urged the public to rely on verified information.
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