AfD candidate excluded from Friesland district election in Lower Saxony

AfD Bundestag member Martin Sichert was barred from standing in the landrat (district) election in Friesland, Lower Saxony. A six‑person election committee, comprising representatives of the SPD, CDU, FDP and the Greens, voted in a 22‑minute session to reject his candidacy after a recommendation from the state interior ministry, led by Daniela Behrens, which classifies the AfD as "right‑extremist." Only three candidates were allowed to run: SPD’s Rolf Neuhaus, a joint CDU/FDP candidate Sibylle Raquet, and Jan Ole Möller of Die Partei. Sichert condemned the decision as a violation of the principle of free and equal elections and announced he will pursue all legal remedies.

The decision sparked criticism from the AfD, which argued the move reflects partisan fear of losing the election and undermines democratic norms.