Local elections in Lower Saxony: Racist statement - Greens distance themselves from candidate

Before the local elections in Lower Saxony, the Green Party's district association Vechta is withdrawing its support from one of its candidates due to a racist statement. "There is no place for racist slogans and inhumane statements with us - regardless of who made them," the district association announced. Several media outlets had reported on a three-year-old video in which the candidate can be heard saying "Ausländer raus" (Foreigners out) to the song "L'amour toujours".

According to the Greens, the man explained internally that the recordings were made out of thoughtless teasing between young people from neighboring communities. He regretted his word choice and apologized for it. Candidate remains a member of the Greens The candidate will continue to be on the ballot in the September elections, according to party information, as the nominations had been submitted bindingly.

However, he will not receive active support from the district association and the Greens. "Whether he is awarded a mandate based on the election result is decided exclusively by the voters," it said. His membership in the party remains in effect, according to the district association. However, the candidate has decided to suspend it for the time being in order to prevent damage to the party.

"A clear political demarcation from his statements means for us not to let a young member fall humanly," the district association announced.