Now, Germany seems to have discovered a new strategy – as legacy parties are simply excluding candidates from the patriotic AfD party from elections. Also in February, the Lower Saxony secret political police (Verfassungsschutz – Office for the Protection of the Constitution) announced it was classifying the local AfD as “confirmed far-right”. Now, as the election approaches, local election boards in Lower Saxony have started examining and even banning AfD candidates from running. At least 11 AfD candidates are currently being investigated for allegedly lacking “loyalty to the constitution”, without any legal recourse or opportunity to defend themselves. On Tuesday, July 21, AfD Bundestag member Martin Sichert was banned from running for county board member in Friesland by the very parties he is running against.