The Lower Saxony electoral committees are set to make critical decisions next week concerning the eligibility of various AfD candidates for mayoral and district leadership positions. Notable cases include Martina Hartschwager in Artland and Thorsten Moriße in Wilhelmshaven. The scrutiny process, which allows electoral authorities to consult public sources and potentially gather intelligence from the domestic security agency, has sparked debate over its implications for candidates’ rights. Critics argue that the exclusion of candidates undermines democratic principles and the integrity of electoral competition.