Politics · Germany · 9 hrs ago
AfD expected to nominate former footballer Thomas Berthold for president
The AfD is expected to nominate Thomas Berthold as its candidate for Germany’s federal president.
The former national-team defender and 1990 World Cup winner has not yet been formally chosen; the party’s leaders are due to decide on Saturday.
The president is elected by the Federal Convention, which is due to meet on January 30.
The AfD’s nomination is largely symbolic, because the party is not expected to have enough support to win.
The CDU/CSU and Social Democrats have nominated CSU politician Ilse Aigner, who is expected to win the vote and succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Social Democrat Ralf Stegner sharply criticized Berthold’s expected candidacy, while saying athletes taking on public roles after their careers can be positive.
The AfD is expected to nominate former footballer Thomas Berthold as its candidate for Germany’s president.
The party’s leadership is due to discuss and decide on the nomination at a conference on Saturday.
The nomination is expected to be largely symbolic, with CSU politician Ilse Aigner likely to win the presidency.
SPD politician Ralf Stegner sharply criticised Berthold’s expected candidacy.
Berthold won the 1990 World Cup with Germany and played 62 international matches.
- Who
- The AfD is expected to nominate former Germany international Thomas Berthold.
- What
- Berthold is expected to be the AfD’s candidate for president of Germany.
- When
- The party is due to discuss and decide on the nomination on Saturday; the presidential assembly meets on January 30.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- The AfD is putting forward its own candidate; the nomination is described as largely symbolic.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The AfD nominated Max Otte for president at the Federal Assembly.
Berthold criticised the coronavirus measures and spoke at a Querdenken 711 event in Stuttgart.
The AfD leadership is due to discuss and decide on Berthold’s expected nomination.
The Federal Assembly is due to meet to elect the president.
- Expected nominee
- Thomas Berthold
- International appearances
- 62
- World Cup
- Germany won in 1990
- Decision meeting
- Saturday, with the AfD federal board and state chairs
- Likely rival candidate
- Ilse Aigner
- Assembly date
- January 30
3 sources
What people are saying
Auf die Schnapsidee, sich von einer rechtsradikalen Partei als Präsidentschaftskandidat nominieren zu lassen, kann man allerdings nur kommen, wenn man zu viele Kopfballübungen mit einem Medizinball durchgeführt hat
Auf die Schnapsidee, sich von einer rechtsradikalen Partei als Präsidentschaftskandidat nominieren zu lassen, kann man allerdings nur kommen, wenn man zu viele Kopfballübungen mit einem Medizinball durchgeführt hat
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