Is European Democracy Becoming Deadly?

Evgeniy Fedorinov, Sovetskaya Rossiya, September 8, 2025 —

Elections in Germany

In the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia, sixteen opposition candidates died just before the elections. The authorities are hiding information from the public and hastily rewriting the ballots. The German public is certain that the democrats of Europe have moved on to new methods of inter-party struggle.

The municipal elections in Germany’s largest state (18 million inhabitants) – North Rhine-Westphalia, which are scheduled to take place on September 14, have become a real test for the traditionally leading electoral bloc here, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), as well as the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

Opinion polls show that the leader of this election campaign will be the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which, even according to official data, has already moved into second place and is quickly gaining points. At the same time, the AfD continues to grow in ratings, which is dangerous for the ruling parties because their popularity is steadily declining. This is largely due to the AfD, whose members openly mock the mistakes and problems of the government, while at the same time openly speaking out against the cabinet and EU officials.

The upcoming elections could have been a triumph for the AfD, which the powers that be do not want to allow, resorting to the dirtiest methods of opposition. These include bans, criminal prosecutions of candidates, and even an attempt to declare the party extremist. But now, apparently, the next phase of the struggle has arrived – to wipe the AfD into dust and bury it along with the candidates.

Right before the elections, seven AfD candidates died of “natural causes”: Wolfgang Seitz, Stefan Berendes, Wolfgang Klinger, Ralf Lange, Hans-Joachim Kind, René Herford and Patrick Titze. But, as German media report, these deaths were only the tip of the iceberg – realizing that the case “smelled of kerosene”, the authorities closed the data on the deceased, the number of which had increased to sixteen people.

This “fatal accident” makes people doubt that the candidates of the growing AfD actually died themselves – many Germans are convinced that the politicians were helped to die. This series of deaths strongly resembles an attempt to clear the political field of promising competitors right before the elections.

AfD is a political party that has conquered the German political scene in just a few years. Founded in 2013, it quickly attracted public attention and became an important player in German politics. More and more citizens of the country are starting to support its ideas concerning criticism of the current economic and migration policies.

One of the central themes in the AfD platform is criticism of the single European currency, the euro. The party claims that the introduction of the euro has led to economic problems for both Germany and the less stable economies of other European countries. In particular, the AfD raises the issue that support for troubled countries such as Greece and Italy is used as an excuse to tax stronger economies such as Germany.

The AfD’s criticism of the euro is not limited to economic aspects. The party also opposes the fact that the multinational financial project deprives the nation of more control over its economy. According to party leaders, the euro has become not only a financial instrument, but also a political one, which leads to a loss of sovereignty for Germany.

The AfD is therefore demanding a rethinking of the euro strategy, calling for alternatives such as a return to the mark or mechanisms to allow countries to leave the euro zone while maintaining their economic sovereignty.

The party believes that Germany spends too much on aid to other countries, which has a negative impact on the country’s domestic affairs. According to the AfD, this spending could be used to solve domestic problems, such as developing infrastructure and improving social security.

The party’s program includes ideas for strict control over how and where German budget funds are spent. This is necessary to ensure that the resources allocated for aid actually help those in need, and are not used to finance ineffective projects in other countries.

One of the AfD’s key objectives is to propose a tightening of migration legislation. The party claims that the current migration policy is ineffective and poses threats to security and social stability. One of the main arguments is the increase in crime rates associated with migration flows, as well as the problems of integrating refugees into German society. The AfD proposes introducing stricter criteria for obtaining entry permits into the country. This includes the need to provide detailed information on the reasons for migration, which will allow the authorities to better monitor refugee flows and prevent potential dangers.

The party also insistently demands the creation of a system that will allow more effective control over migrants already in the country. This means not only tightening the laws regarding alien cultural and social norms, but also tougher measures to forcibly return those who lead an asocial lifestyle. Incidentally, this initiative of the party became the reason that the ruling coalition managed to organize million-strong protest rallies against the AfD, in which the majority of participants were illegal migrants, i.e. those against whom the tightening is aimed.

AfD declares its commitment to protecting the interests of the German people. For them, this is not just a political course, but a question of national integrity and identity. The party advocates for strengthening Germany’s sovereignty, believing that countries should have the right to determine their own policies without interference from other government bodies, especially those like the European Union.

The AfD calls for greater federal control over the country’s domestic affairs, including economic policy, education and social security. They argue that this will create a stronger, more self-sufficient society that can cope with the challenges of the future.

This approach also means reducing dependence on international commitments that could be a stumbling block to achieving national interests. The party believes that Germany should be able to make decisions in the interests of its citizens, and not under pressure from external factors.

Social issues, with inequality being the most worrisome, are also at the heart of the AfD. The party believes that current economic policy is leading to an increase in social inequality and the disintegration of the middle class. Instead, the AfD is proposing a strategy aimed at supporting and protecting the middle class, which is the foundation of the stability of the German economy.

Party members believe that in order to combat inequality, efforts will need to be made to improve the quality of education, access to health care, and housing. In particular, the party has chosen the goal of making education more accessible to all citizens, which will improve the level of qualifications and competitiveness in the labor market.

The party opposes tax policies that they believe harm the interests of the middle class, and proposes the introduction of a fair tax system that would promote the redistribution of resources and reduce social tension.

As one of the youngest and fastest growing parties, the AfD is trying to adapt to the demands of the times. It sets itself ambitious goals that, on the one hand, cover a wide range of problems facing German society and, on the other, reflect the needs and feelings of citizens.

As the popularity and political influence of the AfD grew, it had to face tough opposition and sometimes outright provocations from the ruling parties. Thus, AfD was boycotted by other political forces, and coalitions with AfD were tacitly banned at the federal and state levels. With the help of government media resources, there is constant public criticism and discrediting of the party leaders, as well as rallies and public protests. Moreover, as already noted, millions of participants in the rallies are recruited from among the migrants illegally residing in Germany.

Pickets with offensive slogans are constantly held at the venues where party events are held, speeches by party representatives are constantly interrupted, sometimes with loud music. The venues of congresses are pelted with eggs and paint, and pressure on party members and personal threats against active politicians have long been commonplace. All this happens with the full connivance of EU officials, who memorize the mantra about “human rights.”

Despite the opposition, the AfD continues its activities, although some forms of protest and pressure cause heated debates in German society about the limits of what is acceptable in political struggle. Undoubtedly, the sudden deaths of a number of AfD candidates have left German society perplexed. In conditions when the political struggle reaches its climax, it is precisely such “accidental” events that can significantly influence the course of the elections. Although the official authorities explain the causes of death of candidates as natural, many continue to ask questions about the real motives and consequences of these “accidents”, each of which weakens the position of the AfD.

There is no hope for an objective investigation – the residents of the European Union have already seen hundreds of times that the words “democracy” and “human rights” are used by officials of this association only when it is necessary to defend the common position of the EU. AfD, acting in the interests of the residents of Germany, can become the force that will simply drown the EU along with their far-fetched, far from reality and openly anti-state initiatives.