During the redial in Berlin
AfD politician is on the ballot despite suspicion of terrorism
December 20, 2023, 3:54 p.m
In Berlin, the 2021 federal election will have to be partially repeated. Birgit Malsack-Winkelmann, who was arrested in a “Reichsbürger” raid in 2022, is also on the ballot. It cannot be removed for legal reasons.
In the partial repeat of the federal election in Berlin in February, former AfD member of the Bundestag Birgit Malsack-Winkemann is also on the ballot paper as a candidate for formal reasons. She was arrested in December last year as part of a large-scale raid. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office accuses her of membership and support of a terrorist organization.
“The candidate must not be removed from the ballot paper,” said Berlin’s state returning officer Stephan Bröchler. “In the constitutional state, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a regular court.” The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe decided on Tuesday that the September 2021 federal election in Berlin must be repeated due to numerous glitches in 455 electoral districts and the associated postal voting districts.
The same candidate lists apply as in the original election. Malsack-Winkemann was on the state list of the Berlin AfD. “We have tried everything, but there is no legal way to remove Ms. Malsack-Winkemann from the state list,” said AfD state chairwoman Kristin Brinker to the “Tagesspiegel.”
A week ago on Tuesday, the federal prosecutor’s office filed charges for the first time following the large-scale anti-terror raid against so-called Reich citizens around a year ago. There are 27 suspects, including Malsack-Winkemann. The accused are said to have planned to overthrow the political system in Germany.