00:00AFD candidates' deaths spark unfounded suspicions on social media.
00:07As many as six candidates for the far-right Alternative for Germany party have died in recent weeks ahead of local elections in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
00:19And it's prompted unfounded suspicions on social media.
00:22On September 14th, district, municipal and city councils, as well as some mayors, will be elected in the western German state, with a reported 20,000 candidates running for office.
00:34Police have ruled out any foul play in relation to these six deaths. The causes range from serious pre-existing conditions to suicide.
00:44A senior official from Alternative for Germany itself has also dismissed speculation that these deaths were in any way intentional.
00:51But there have also been clear attempts to sow conspiracy and suspicions.
00:57The party's leader, Alice Vidal, shared a post on X where another user describes the death toll as statistically almost impossible.
01:06This theory has been amplified on social media and by controversial public figures.
01:12Here, British far-right activist Tommy Robinson asks, what's going on?
01:17And the billionaire owner of X, Elon Musk, comments, weird.
01:21Conservative publications have also misleadingly described the deaths as mysterious or unexpected.
01:29The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior has said that candidates from other parties have also died in the electoral campaign,
01:36but that these deaths have not sparked the same unfounded suspicions.
01:40The deaths do mean that ballot papers issued in certain constituencies, as well as some mail-in votes, are now invalid.
01:47It also means the party will have to nominate new candidates to replace the deceased.
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