Germany: Employees dismissed following AfD political candidacies

Two separate cases in Germany involving the termination of employees following their candidacy for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have emerged.

In Salzgitter, an educator was dismissed by the Caritas association after running as an AfD candidate in local elections. Caritas stated that active campaigning for the AfD is incompatible with the organization’s values of empathy and respect for all people regardless of worldview. The educator has filed a lawsuit with the Braunschweig Labor Court to contest the dismissal, with a conciliation hearing scheduled for October 9. Her lawyer noted she is not a formal member of the party.

In a separate incident, a pediatric surgeon at Klinikum Lippe had her employment terminated. While the hospital declined to comment on specific details citing privacy reasons, the dismissal follows controversy regarding her candidacy for the AfD. Although she reportedly distanced herself from the candidacy and claimed to have left the party shortly before the elections, her name appeared on the official ballot. She did not secure a seat in the local council.