State election - AfD in Wartburgkreis without two direct candidates
After a party dispute, the AfD is without direct candidates for the Landtag election in two constituencies of the Wartburg district. Both Stephan Müller and Christoph Walter were not approved, according to the Landratsamt. Therefore, in the three constituencies of the Wartburg district, there is only one AfD candidate who can be directly elected to the Landtag on September 1.
Previously, the two candidates who were not approved had suffered a loss in court before the Erfurt Regional Court. They wanted to achieve through the court that the state executive board, headed by Björn Höcke, would support their candidacy with the necessary signature. This was rejected by the court spokeswoman. The party reportedly cited formal errors in the nomination of the two candidates and therefore refused to support them.
In the Wartburg district's Erfurt constituency, the AfD is currently lacking a direct representative in the upcoming State election due to the party's internal dispute. Despite their legal fight at the Erfurt Regional Court, Stephan Müller and Christoph Walter were not given the party's approval for the Landtag election. As a result, the Thuringia State election on September 1 will only see one AfD candidate directly elected from the Wartburg district, as they have failed to secure support from the party leadership in Thuringia, headed by Björn Höcke.
