A series of six deaths among candidates of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the German nationalist party, just days before the September 14 municipal elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, is fueling a heated controversy.

AfD supporters, including its co-leader Alice Weidel, struggle to dismiss this as a mere coincidence. On August 31, Weidel posted on X: “Four AfD candidates are dead,” relaying an analysis by a former economist suggesting this was “nearly impossible statistically.” The message, amplified by Elon Musk, owner of X and a well-known supporter of the party, sparked a wave of online speculation, with some users referring to “murders in disguise.” However, German police investigations contradict these theories.

According to Le Parisien, five candidates died of natural causes, often related to chronic illnesses, while the sixth committed suicide. A spokesperson for the regional election directorate qualified the report: "We also deplore six cases of death in other political parties, including the Animal Rights Party, the Free Voters, the Liberal Party, and the Greens. Such deaths occur in every election, regardless of the party." Kay Gottschalk, AfD regional vice-chairman, attempted to calm things down in Der Spiegel: "For the moment, there is no reason to believe that this is not a coincidence. But we will nevertheless examine all these cases closely," leaving a strategic doubt among the Afghan electorate.

These deaths have led to practical disruptions, with ballots being reprinted and postal votes being canceled in several cities.

The AfD, which made a breakthrough in the February parliamentary elections with 20.1% of the vote, becoming the largest opposition force in the Bundestag, could take advantage of this controversy to mobilize its support before this key election in North Rhine-Westphalia.