An accomplice of an AfD district councilor was formerly a member of the NPD.
Robert Sesselmann is the first Alternative for Germany (AfD) county council chairperson in Germany. His partner has ties to the National Democratic Party (NPD), which Sesselmann now acknowledges. Pictures online show the woman standing in front of Nazi symbols. Nevertheless, Sesselmann claims he was blissfully unaware of his partner's past.
Sesselmann has spoken openly about his connection with an ex-NPD member. He has been in a romantic relationship with her since May. "She has been my partner ever since," he shared in response to being questioned. He maintains he wasn't familiar with her prior to now, including her background - like how she was once actively involved in the NPD.
Sesselmann, who has been a county council chairperson in Sonneberg, Thuringia, since last summer, claims he doesn't interact with members of Home or the NPD. Even so, it's possible he chats with individuals from the right-wing scene while on the campaign trail or during citizen forums, just as he would talk to anyone from other political organizations.
Sesselmann: No Relevance to Political Affairs
Previously, Thuringian Left parliamentarian Katharina König-Preuss highlighted Sesselmann's relationship and referenced information from an "anti-fascist research" entity. An image circulating online depicts Sesselmann's new girlfriend in front of a swastika flag and a Hitler portrait. The 2018 Thuringia Constitutional Protection Report asserts that she has connections with top NPD members and also links to nationwide right-wing extremists.
Sesselmann emphasized that this was strictly a personal relationship. He integrated a four-day vacation with his partner over Pentecost and combined it with campaigning. His partner wasn't a campaigner. And, "I can guarantee you that I am making every effort to fulfill my obligations as county council chairperson diligently, and this relationship has had no influence on my cross-party and neutral activity as county council chairperson."
Sesselmann achieved a milestone as the first AfD politician to secure a local leadership position in Germany last summer. His ascension to an AfD position stirred up controversy and backlash throughout the country. The Thuringian AfD, headed by Björn Höcke, is labeled as reliably far-right by the police and is under investigation. Sesselmann is a member of the party's state leadership. County council chairpersons are required to uphold the liberal-democratic foundations as public employees. The Thuringian State Administration Agency examined Sesselmann's commitment to the constitution after his election and did not voice any concerns.
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- Despite controversy surrounding the partnership of Robert Sesselmann, the AfD district councilor, with a woman who was previously a member of the National Democratic Party (NPD), known for its ties to National Socialism and right-wing extremism, Sesselmann claims he was unaware of her background.
- Björn Höcke, the leader of the Thuringia branch of the AfD, which the police label as reliably far-right and is under investigation, has a party member in his state leadership in the form of Robert Sesselmann, who became the first AfD politician to secure a local leadership position in Germany.
- While Sesselmann maintains that his relationship with the woman, who has connections with top NPD members and right-wing extremists, has no influence on his cross-party and neutral activity as county council chairperson, some have criticized his affiliation with the AfD, a party with alleged links to Neo-Nazis.
- With a history of promoting controversial figures such as Björn Höcke and having an accomplice with ties to the NPD, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to face criticism for its association with right-wing extremism and its on-going connection to figures like Adolf Hitler and the principles of National Socialism.
