AfD sues police chief: Negotiation in the scandal trial in Oldenburg!

AfD sues police chief: Negotiation in the scandal trial in Oldenburg!

A sensational legal dispute is pending at the Oldenburg Administrative Court: On November 17, 2025, the lawsuit brought by the Lower Saxony AfD regional association against the Oldenburg Police Department will be heard. The point of contention? An interview by former police chief Johann Kühme in which he described the AfD as a threat to internal security in August 2023. He accused the party of “deliberately and perfidiously deceiving” citizens, which the AfD sees as a gross violation of the principle of moderation and neutrality. Kühme himself sees it as his duty to take a stand against political extremes, which ultimately maneuvered him into the public discussion from which the AfD now wants to distance itself.

Kühme's 46 years of service are remarkable. After almost 11 years as police chief, he received his retirement certificate in March 2024. During his term in office, he gained recognition for his positions on socially explosive issues. His successor, Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD), praised Kühme for his commitment to democracy. The police headquarters already has a new commander in Andreas Sagehorn, but the question remains as to how the judiciary will judge Kühme's statements and whether they were legally justified.

The lawsuit and its background

At the core of the lawsuit is Kühme's statement that the AfD is abusing the police for its own political goals. This criticism was particularly explosive because it arose in the context of the AfD's so-called "individual case ticker", which, among other things, dealt with violent migrants and was rejected by Kühme as a "construct of lies". According to him, the police must remain politically neutral, which the AfD vehemently rejects and views Kühme's statements as stigmatizing and defamatory. Nevertheless, the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior rejected a supervisory complaint against Kühme, so the AfD has to deal with this situation not only legally, but also politically. Some are wondering whether this action can be viewed as a targeted attack on freedom of expression and police independence.

The moderation of political neutrality is also strictly monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. This institution has classified the AfD as a “secure right-wing extremist effort”, but this classification was temporarily suspended on May 2, 2025. One wonders how this situation will affect the upcoming negotiation. Historically, the AfD has often lost in court in similar cases, but the outcome of this lawsuit could be significant for its future political course and public trust in its actions.

A look at the political landscape

The AfD is currently perceived as the strongest opposition faction in the German Bundestag after receiving almost 21 percent of the vote in the election on February 23, 2025. This rising popularity could complicate the administrative court case, especially given national discussions about the limits of political expression and the responsibilities of public officials regarding their public statements. The growing controversy surrounding the party and its activities has also caused a stir internationally and suggests that a lot more water will flow down the drain before it is clear how the court will decide.

The next few weeks will show how the legal and political arguments in the Kühme case continue to unfold. The outcome could not only be important for the AfD, but also for public perception and the working atmosphere within the police authorities in Lower Saxony.