The local election committee in the German city of Ludwigshafen has ruled that Joachim Paul, a politician from the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, cannot run for mayor in the upcoming election on September 21. The decision was based on what officials described as “doubts about his loyalty to the constitution,” following a review by the domestic intelligence agency.
The committee—made up of members from Germany’s main establishment parties (the SPD, CDU, FDP) and a local independent group (FWG)—voted to block Paul’s candidacy. The AfD was not represented on the committee.
The decision was based on an assessment that cited several public statements by Paul, which the regional domestic intelligence agency—under the control of the SPD-led Interior Ministry—considered problematic.
In response, Paul denounced the decision as undemocratic and said voters in Ludwigschafen “were cheated out of their vote today.” He announced plans to pursue legal action against the election committee’s decision.
