Election fraud and arson: Ex-councilman from Langebrück in trouble!

Election fraud and arson: Ex-councilman from Langebrück in trouble!

A case that stirs emotions: A 45-year-old man from Dresden-Langebrück has had to answer before the Dresden regional court for election fraud and arson. How Radio Dresden reported, the former local councilor confessed to having committed manipulations in the 2024 local and state elections as part of the right-wing extremist “Free Saxony”. This was done, among other things, by sticking crosses over postal voting documents.

In the run-up to the elections, the man came into possession of ballot papers at the end of April and beginning of May 2024 after he gained access to a Deutsche Post locking system. His own interest as a candidate for the “Free Saxons” could not be overlooked. He admits that his actions violated the rules and described his behavior as “unsportsmanlike” and embarrassing.

Arson as a means of deterring asylum seekers

But election fraud is not the only thing the man is accused of. He is also suspected of having committed arson at a former school in Klotzsche on the night of September 30, 2023 and again on October 19, 2023, which was supposed to be used as accommodation for asylum seekers. Flammable liquid was poured onto the facade and a fuse was set. How MDR reported, the fires went out before they could cause any major damage.

The man, who is currently in custody, is directly linked to a total of 37 other crimes. These range from unauthorized cultivation and production of cannabis to attempted theft. The process will last a total of five days until the beginning of July.

Political motives and resistance

The incidents shed light on the increased activity of right-wing extremists in the region. The “Free Saxons”, whose subdivisions the composed Langebrücker was on the rise for, achieved striking results in the local elections in the postal voting districts of Langebrück: in one district they received 14 percent of the vote, while in other parts of Dresden they only achieved two percent. The events were also observed internationally, as the manipulations and arson indicate a right-wing agenda. Political scientists at the TU Dresden have already identified irregularities in the voting process, which is further heating up the mood in the city.

The investigation is being led by the special commission to combat right-wing extremist crimes, which is responsible for clarifying the background and possible accomplices. How Daily Mirror informed, the apartment of a 42-year-old woman who was possibly a supporter of the defendant was also searched.

The coming weeks promise to be exciting, and not just for the defendant, who faces a prison sentence of between three years and nine months to four and a half years. It will be interesting to see what additional information the investigators will uncover.