德国选择党7名候选人不到两周接连离世，引发“阴谋论”

Core Points - The upcoming local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, are significant for the political landscape, especially given the recent deaths of seven candidates from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party [1][2] - The AfD party had seen a substantial increase in votes during the 2022 state elections, solidifying its political position in the region [1] - The circumstances surrounding the candidates' deaths, including five due to illness or age, one reported as "natural causes," and one confirmed suicide, have raised concerns and led to speculation about their impact on the elections [1][2] Group 1 - The local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia are crucial for Germany's political structure and social atmosphere [1] - The AfD party's political status was further strengthened after the 2022 state elections [1] - The deaths of the candidates have led to police investigations, with no evidence of foul play found [1] Group 2 - The vice-chairman of the AfD expressed shock at the statistical improbability of losing so many candidates in such a short time before the elections [2] - Social media has seen a rise in conspiracy theories linking the candidates' deaths to the elections, prompting calls for thorough investigations [2] - Criticism has emerged regarding the AfD's potential exploitation of the situation for electoral gain [2]