Election party now completely without press after court decision

Following a court ruling against the exclusion of several media from the AfD election party in Thuringia, the party has excluded the entire press from the event after the state election. A party spokesman referred to organizational problems on Sunday: There was not enough space at the venue for all media representatives who had requested accreditation. Instead, there will be interview opportunities with AfD representatives for journalists in the Thuringian state parliament.

On Saturday, the Erfurt Regional Court confirmed a decision from August 21 that the AfD in Thuringia must grant several previously excluded journalists and media houses access to its election party after the state election on Sunday. The publishers of “Spiegel”, “taz”, “Welt” and “Bild” had taken legal action against the exclusion of an AfD election event for the state election.

According to the spokesman, the court ordered accreditation for only six media representatives. However, there are more than 150 other accreditation requests. According to the court ruling, the party would have had to grant everyone access and this would have exceeded the scope, said the spokesman. The election party was planned with 150 invited guests and 50 accredited media representatives.

How exactly and in what context the election party will take place is “still being examined,” the spokesman continued. However, “only invited guests” would definitely be allowed.

New state parliaments will be elected in Thuringia and Saxony on Sunday. In Thuringia, around 1.66 million citizens are being called upon to vote. In the polls, the AfD in Thuringia, whose regional association there is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as definitely right-wing extremist, is clearly ahead.

pe/hcy