Has Political Assassinations of the Right Begun? By Brian Simpson

The deaths of seven Alternative for Germany (AfD) politicians in the lead-up to the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) local elections on September 14, 2025, have sparked significant speculation, with some claiming the probability of such an event occurring naturally is "statistically almost impossible." However, authorities say that there is no indication of foul play. What else would they say?

Based on multiple reports, seven AfD-affiliated individuals, four direct candidates and three reserve candidates, died in the weeks before the NRW elections. Here is a summary of the known details, drawn from sources like Remix News, Hungarian Conservative, and Politico:

1.Ralph Lange, 66, Blomberg: Died on August 28, 2025, reportedly due to alleged serious health problems. His death invalidated polling cards and postal ballots in Blomberg, requiring reprints.

2.Wolfgang Seitz, 59, Rheinberg: Died "suddenly and unexpectedly" of a heart attack, with reports indicating supposed pre-existing health issues.

3.Stefan Berendes, 59, Bad Lippspringe: Died of natural causes, though specific details were not disclosed. His death also triggered ballot reprints.

4.Wolfgang Klinger, 71, Schwerte: Died "suddenly and unexpectedly," with serious health problems noted but no specific cause released.

5.Hans-Joachim Kind, 80, Kremenholl, Remscheid: Died of natural causes after a long illness, distinguishing his case from the "unexpected" deaths.

6.René Herford: A reserve candidate who died of kidney failure linked to a pre-existing liver condition.

7.Patrick Tietze: A reserve candidate who died by suicide.

Additionally, reports confirm that a total of 16 candidates across all parties died in the same period, with the AfD accounting for seven. The NRW elections involve approximately 20,000 candidates across 427 municipalities, serving a population of 18 million. Authorities, including the NRW Interior Ministry and police, have found no evidence of foul play, and AfD's deputy state chairman, Kay Gottschalk, has urged against conspiracy theories, emphasising natural causes or personal circumstances.

The claim that these deaths are "statistically almost impossible," originates from retired economist Stefan Homburg, whose post on X (amplified by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel and Elon Musk) suggested that four AfD candidate deaths within two weeks defied statistical likelihood. This claim was made before the total rose to seven, and it has fuelled speculation, of foul play, although the authorities deny it, as they would.

Certainly, if more deaths occur of AfD candidates, the idea that this was just a normal statistic will be thrashed.

https://rmx.news/commentary/are-afd-politicians-actually-being-killed-off/