AfD candidate Bystron has decided not to appear in the election campaign following corruption allegations. For the Greens, the European elections are a directional decision for democracy. Merz criticizes the federal government’s France policy before the European elections. You can find all the votes and developments regarding the European elections here.

Thursday, May 23, 2024, 7:10 a.m.: According to CDU chairman Friedrich Merz, the federal government must improve cooperation with France. It is “so important for all of us that we work well together with France in the long term,” said Merz on Wednesday evening at his party’s election campaign event in Saarlouis. “That is why it is such a great loss for Germany that there is more or less speechlessness between the federal government and the current French President.”

“The French President is our friend, no matter what his name is,” said Merz, referring to the Franco-German reconciliation, which was crucial for the creation of the European Union. “And we have to work with this government – ​​who knows what will be in France in two years – better than we are currently doing.” 

Cooperation with the government of Poland, where Donald Tusk, a pro-European prime minister, has become prime minister, must also improve: “Germany must be the country in the middle between Poland and France that is most committed to progress in Europe.” The European elections are on June 9th.

2.35 p.m.: A good two weeks before the European elections, the AfD leadership breaks with its top candidate Maximilian Krah. A party spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the federal executive board had imposed a ban on Krah appearing. You can find out what happens next here.

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2:16 p.m.: After searches on suspicion of money laundering and bribery, AfD Bundestag member Petr Bystron, number two on the party’s European election list, no longer wants to appear in the party’s election campaign for the time being. When asked on Wednesday, Bystron referred to family reasons for this step. 

“My closest family members have once again become victims of a house search and media incitement,” Bystron told the German Press Agency. “Anyone who doesn’t understand that I have to take care of them first has no heart.” Bayerischer Rundfunk had previously reported on Bystron’s temporary withdrawal.

Bystron’s announcement came several days after AfD chairmen Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla asked him to forego further appearances in the European election campaign. In an email from the AfD federal manager to Bystron it was said that Weidel and Chrupalla had agreed that Bystron should refrain from further appearances as part of the AfD’s European election campaign until the allegations against him or the ongoing investigations against him had been clarified.

This means that the AfD will initially have to make do in the European election campaign without the two candidates at the top of its list. The party’s federal executive board has banned top candidate Maximilian Krah from appearing, a party spokesman announced on Wednesday. The “Bild” newspaper first reported on this step. The background is Krah’s controversial statements about the SS and a dispute that broke out with the French right-wing party Rassemblement National.

Both candidates have been in the headlines for weeks because of possible connections to pro-Russian networks. According to media reports, public prosecutors are examining possible monetary payments to both politicians. In addition, one of Krah’s employees was arrested for suspected spying for China. 

The Bundestag lifted Bystron’s immunity on Thursday because the public prosecutor’s office was investigating him on initial suspicion of bribery and money laundering. Police searched, among other things, his parliamentary office in Berlin. Bystron himself described the proceedings to “Zeit online” as politically motivated. “The proceedings will be stopped when the election is over,” the portal quoted him as saying. 

1:49 p.m.: The Wahl-O-Mat for the 2024 European elections is available online. Simply answer the questions and find out which parties are best for you. This Wahl-O-Mat was created based on the election programs of the various parties. Simply answer the questions and find out which parties suit you best.

Tuesday, May 21, 1:48 p.m.: The Federal Returning Officer recommends that eligible voters who have not received an election notification by May 19, 2024 should immediately clarify with their responsible municipality whether they have been properly entered in the voters’ register.

Citizens have the opportunity to view the electoral roll and check the accuracy and completeness of the data entered until May 24, 2024. Anyone who believes the information is incorrect or incomplete should clarify this with the local authority and, if necessary, lodge an objection with the local authority in accordance with Section 21 of the European Elections Regulations (EuWO) by May 24, 2024.

Saturday, May 18th, 4:38 p.m.: In Karlsruhe, incorrect postal voting documents were sent for the upcoming local council elections on June 9th. The city administration announced this on its homepage on Saturday.

In very rare cases, a production error occurred when printing the ballot papers. A small proportion of the yellow municipal council ballot papers that have so far been issued or sent as part of the postal voting documents are incomplete. “Several of the 15 parties and voter associations running in the Karlsruhe municipal council election were missing from them. The Stuttgart printing company that specializes in printing election documents and which made the error ensures that all ballot papers that will be issued from now on are complete,” the city’s statement said. SWR first reported.

To ensure that all eligible voters are informed directly and personally, the electoral office will also write to all those potentially affected personally. The Karlsruhe Regional Council, as the responsible supervisory authority, has been informed. The European and local council elections, which are also taking place on June 9, are not affected.

The electoral office asked all eligible voters to check the voting documents they had already received for completeness as quickly as possible. The yellow block of ballot paper must consist of 16 pages, 15 lists and a leaflet with information about the election. Anyone who has received an incorrect block of ballot paper can exchange it at the postal voting office until the Friday before the election (June 7th). It is also possible to have the new block of ballot papers sent to you.

Thursday, May 16th, 6:55 a.m.: The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) started the European election campaign in Hamburg with sharp attacks on the traffic light coalition. The election on June 9th is not only important for Europe, said the founder and namesake of the alliance on Wednesday at the opening rally in front of several hundred participants at the Altona fish market. “The European elections are the first elections where you can vote for the BSW (…) and this election is actually about Germany.”

She accused the federal government and especially Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) of whitewashing the situation in Germany. Given the economic and social situation, Scholz not only shows problems with memory when dealing with the “Cum-Ex” affair. “He obviously also has problems simply perceiving reality,” said Wagenknecht.

While billions of euros are available for the arms industry and arms deliveries to Ukraine, there is a lack of money for children’s education in Germany. When it comes to pensions and citizens’ money, the traffic light coalition “only talks about social fraud, but no longer about poverty,” said Wagenknecht. 

She accused the Greens led by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economics Minister Robert Habeck of acting as “moral world champions” by demonizing cheap energy from Russia and burdening citizens with expensive alternatives. This is also why the BSW was founded “so that we can return to a foreign policy of peace and reason”. Weapons for Ukraine only led to more war and death.

The BSW Europe top candidate and former Hamburg left-wing member of the Bundestag Fabio De Masi referred to the Elbtower construction site, which is within sight of the fish market and has been dormant for months, the realization of which Scholz had pushed forward during his time as Hamburg mayor. “He promised a skyscraper for Hamburg and what emerged was a ruined building. And he promised an economic miracle for Germany and the result was a recession,” he said.

It is “absolutely clear that the economy will suffer if we only fleece the small people and the middle class”. De Masi called for the closure of tax loopholes for large corporations. “This European election is also an opportunity to show the red card to the traffic lights,” he said. 

The event at the fish market marked the start of a series of BSW rallies across Germany. The event will conclude with a rally on June 6th in Berlin. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:43 a.m.: All eligible voters registered in the electoral roll for the 2024 European elections will receive an election notification from their municipality by May 19, 2024 at the latest. This is announced by the Federal Returning Officer. The election notification is proof of entry in the voters’ register and therefore of the right to take part in the election.

All eligible voters who were registered with the registration authority of their municipality with their main residence on April 28, 2024 have been entered into the voters’ register for the 2024 European elections. The polling station where those eligible to vote can cast their vote on June 9, 2024 is also indicated on the election notifications. The election notifications also contain information on how to apply for a voting slip or postal voting documents.

From May 20th to May 24th, 2024, the municipal authorities will have their electoral rolls available for inspection on weekdays during general opening hours. Citizens who have not received an election notification by May 19, 2024 should immediately contact the election office at their main residence so that a verification can be carried out.

If eligible voters lose their voting notification, they can still cast their vote. For this purpose, the affected voters must identify themselves at the polling station by presenting their identity card or passport – those eligible to vote from other states of the European Union must identify themselves by presenting their identity card.

The complete press release can be found on the Federal Returning Officer’s website at (http://www.bundeswahlleiterin.de).

You can read more about the European elections on the next pages.