A German Politician Inadvertently Gave Up His Seat In Parliament

• 18.10.2026, 20:47

A member of the AdG made a mistake in the document.

A member of the “Alternative for Germany” party (AfD), 66-year-old Andreas Blüm, accidentally forfeited his seat on the city council of Kloppenburg in Lower Saxony after making a mistake while filling out a document, according to Bild.

Bluhm incorrectly filled out the official form by checking the box next to the option to renounce his council seat, after which he mailed the document to the municipal election official. The Kloppenburg administration confirmed to the Nordwest-Zeitung that the politician “renounced his seat in a written statement submitted within the prescribed time limit.” This decision cannot be revoked. If Blüm had not filled out and sent the form, his election would have been considered valid.

In the election, he received 540 votes and was directly elected to the city council. According to the politician, he had hoped to begin his work in the new council.

“I really wanted to be on the city council. <...> Until Tuesday, it wasn’t clear to me that I wouldn’t be part of the next city council. <...> I felt really sick when I found out,” Blum said. He was unable to explain his mistake and added, “I’m terribly angry.”

According to the publication, in the municipal elections in Kloppenburg, the party received 22.29% of the vote and nine seats, but due to a shortage of candidates, it could only fill five. After Blum’s withdrawal, the number of available seats will be even fewer.

Faction leader Iris Hermes stated that she had anticipated a shortage of candidates even before the election. “It’s frustrating that we’re now losing another seat,” she said.