The AfD has nominated 35 candidates for the European elections. After pointing out inconsistencies in the biographies of two candidates, the party now wants to check all CVs.
After reports of inconsistencies, the AfD board has the CVs of the candidates for the upcoming European elections checked. This was decided on Monday by the AfD federal board – a corresponding report by the news portal t-online was confirmed by the AFP news agency from AfD board circles. The “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung” had also reported.
False information about professional career
Research by t-online had shown that the candidate Arno Bausemer from Saxony-Anhalt, who was in tenth place on the Europe list, is said to have made numerous false statements in his application for the candidacy – for example that he had worked as the managing director of an agricultural company for many years and have a degree in journalism.
Party members also have further doubts about the degree of candidate Mary Khan-Hohloch, who was elected 14th. These inconsistencies are causing unrest in parts of the base – there is concern that the party could have fallen for impostors when nominating candidates.
Documents must be submitted by September 11th
According to the will of the AfD leadership, the 35 candidates should submit documents about the information they have given about their professional or academic qualifications. Two persons of trust and the national manager of the party were commissioned by decision of the federal executive board to have these documents presented to them by September 11th.
The summarized result of this examination should be presented at the meeting of the AfD federal executive board on September 18, according to the decision available in excerpts to the dpa news agency.
“Transparency, trust and Credibility”
The federal board wanted to maintain transparency, trust and credibility and therefore made the decision on Monday, said the co-bosses of the AfD, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, when asked by the dpa.
Bausemer himself also said on request: “I am pleased that the AfD federal executive board is now examining all the professional qualifications of our candidates for the European Parliament. The false allegations against me will disappear into thin air.” Bausemer’s Saxony-Anhalt state association supported the candidates.
For the European elections, the AfD had nominated a total of 35 candidates in a complex party conference procedure.