Special Olympics Germany warns against vote for far-right AfD

Special Olympics Germany (SOD), the national sports association for people with intellectual disabilities, has warned against voting for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Sunday's state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The far-right AfD won in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month and opinion polls say the party will vastly increase its share of the vote on Sunday, with another victory not discounted.

SOD vice-president Andreas Silbersack said in a statement on Friday that the AfD wanted "to abolish inclusion. That hits us right to the core."

He added: "Our right to exist is being called into question and there is a threat that financial resources will be withdrawn in a federal state. It looks like we will have to brace for rough and difficult times in Saxony-Anhalt. We are very concerned because our work depends on support, a reliable framework and a societal commitment to inclusion."

The AfD's election manifesto in Saxony-Anhalt stated, "The 'inclusion' experiment, that is joint-teaching of disabled children with normally gifted children and the abolition of traditional special schools, has failed across the board."