A group of parents at a daycare centre in a major German city have petitioned for the removal of a four-year-old boy because his father is a member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and sits in parliament.
The dispute reportedly began in September, when a number of parents communicating via WhatsApp discussed sending a petition to the daycare provider.
They argued that the AfD MP’s views “explicitly oppose the goals” of the daycare centre, which promotes diversity and inclusion.
Messages seen by news outlet NIUS show that some parents called for the child’s removal with a “fair transition period”. They claimed the father represented “xenophobic, homophobic and pro-Kremlin” positions that were incompatible with the daycare’s values.
Several versions of the petition circulated in September and this month.
A later, softened version, described the centre as a place “for children of all nationalities” and expressed concern that one parent, a public figure, “professionally agitates against” those aims.
It urged the daycare management to “work with concerned parents and the affected parent to change the situation”.
The daycare’s sponsoring organisation, a non-partisan educational body, responded by reaffirming its neutrality.
“For us, the daycare centre is a neutral space in which children are always the focus,” it said in a statement.
The management stressed that values such as diversity and equal opportunity must be conveyed “without political, religious or other stigmatising labels” and warned against “politicising” daycare life.
The provider also informed the supervisory authority and arranged supervision for staff, according to NIUS.
A parents’ evening was held a few days ago, attended by around 15 parents, three staff members and the AfD politician himself.
The atmosphere was reportedly tense. “I am here as a father, not as a politician,” the MP said, assuring others of a “clear separation” between his political role and family life.
He expressed concern that the controversy might lead to his child being ostracised.
The father who initiated the petition admitted his earlier message calling for the child’s exclusion had been written “in the heat of the moment”.
“It was never the intention to exclude a child,” he said, adding that “the welfare of all children should come first.”
The parents agreed not to pursue the child’s removal but to hold further discussions among concerned families and the father involved.
Before the meeting, some parents had suggested introducing training sessions on extremism or including a “code of values” in the daycare’s rules.
One mother expressed fears that parents’ political views could influence children, while others warned against a “totalitarian approach”.
“If we start with this attitude, where does it stop?,” one parent reportedly asked.
The daycare’s management reiterated its neutral stance: “We do not carry out an attitude test.” Staff members said they were “irritated” by the division among parents and wished to focus solely on education.
According to NIUS, no cases of extremist behaviour have been observed among staff or children. The daycare provider emphasised that the child’s welfare remains the priority.
The case came to light after a third party informed the news outlet and the AfD politician concerned later confirmed the incident.
NIUS says it has verified the parents’ emails, meeting minutes and other documents, although it has chosen to anonymise the individuals and the daycare centre involved.
