Forged ballot papers? Attorney General's Office investigates

The public prosecutor's office in Dresden has opened an investigation into attempts to manipulate the Saxon state elections. Unknown persons had manipulated a total of 126 postal ballot papers in favor of the small right-wing extremist party Freie Sachsen, explained the public prosecutor's office. The ballot papers came from different electoral districts, it said. As the investigation is ongoing, no further details can be provided.

Affected are 85 ballot papers from two constituencies in Dresden-Langebrück, 27 from the city of Dresden and 14 from two constituencies in Radeberg, the public prosecutor's office explained.

As the police had previously reported, unknown persons had taped over the cross already placed on postal ballot papers and marked Freie Sachsen instead. The State Criminal Police Office has also already investigated this. The state electoral committee had announced that it would probably decide on electoral consequences on September 13.

In total, the small party achieved 2.2 percent in the state election. Just like the AfD in Saxony, the Free Saxons are also classified as an extreme right-wing movement by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. According to the agency, they are a group of neo-Nazis, functionaries of the former NPD and other scene members or sympathizers organized as a party. On their Telegram channel, the Free Saxons denied having anything to do with the manipulation of the ballot papers.