Von Storch wants first place: Berlin’s Alternative Party elects candidates

BERLIN (dpa/bb) – The Alternative Regional Federation for Germany in Berlin will determine its candidates for the federal elections on September 26 at the weekend. Bundestag member Beatrix von Storch (50) wants to run for first place on the state list at the electoral meeting. Today starts the two-day event in Berlin Bisdorf (Marzan – Hillersdorf). About 250 delegates are expected to attend. According to AfD head of state Christine Brinker, a maximum of eight seats should be chosen.

The number of candidates who would initially stand was still open. The leader of the AfD’s parliamentary group, Georg Bazzersky, has already announced that he wants to apply for a mandate in the Bundestag. The 69-year-old former officer, who is seen as an internal opponent of the new head of state, had not started the weekend before when the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Berlin elected the candidates to the lower house.

Head of State Brinker assumes that the election of the candidates will conclude on Saturday. Then delegates to the next federal caucuses will be elected on Sunday. The electoral meeting will be held in a large tent. Left-wing groups have already announced protests against it.

In 2017, the AfD in Berlin reached 12.0 percent in the federal elections and entered parliament with four members, none of whom won a direct mandate. Bazersky ran as a direct candidate in the Berlin-Pankow district and received 12.1 percent of the first votes. Circle went to the member from the left.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210611-99-956496 / 2

Source: DPA