Far-Right 'Identitarian Movement' Barred from Upcoming Bundestag Elections

The Federal Election Committee has ruled that the far-right group known as the 'Identitarian Movement' will not be allowed to participate as a political party in the forthcoming Bundestag elections. This decision was made during a session held on Monday.

The 'Identitarian Movement' has been classified as a far-right organization by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The Committee's ruling stems from a procedural error in the group's application for candidacy, preventing it from progressing to further evaluation stages.

According to Ruth Brand, the Federal Returning Officer, the group failed to secure the necessary signatures from at least three board members on their candidacy application, known as a participation notice. This shortcoming meant that the 'Identitarian Movement' could not clear one of the initial hurdles required for candidacy.

As stipulated by German election law, political parties must obtain a certain number of supporting signatures to register candidates or lists for election. In this instance, the 'Identitarian Movement' did not meet that requirement, leading to their disqualification.

Despite this setback, the group may still contest the ruling by appealing to the Federal Constitutional Court within a four-day window.

Other political parties also encountered challenges during the application process. The Federal Election Committee is set to determine the eligibility of 56 parties for the Bundestag elections taking place on February 23. Parties that have maintained representation with at least five members in either the Bundestag or a state legislature since the last election are granted automatic approval. These include well-known parties such as the SPD, CDU, AfD, Greens, FDP, Left Party, BSW, CSU, Free Voters, and the 'Bündnis Deutschland.'

During the session, representatives from various political entities voiced concerns regarding the organization of the expedited elections. Members of parties like 'Die Humanisten' and 'Die Gerechtigkeitspartei - Team Todenhöfer' criticized the fact that the number of required supporting signatures remained unchanged despite the shortened timelines for the current elections.

In conclusion, while the 'Identitarian Movement' faces significant barriers in its electoral aspirations, the upcoming elections will witness a diverse array of parties vying for representation, all navigating the complex landscape of German electoral law.