Thread by @MikeStuchbery_

Stuttgart has its own electoral madness - and mini-Trump. We choose a new mayor this weekend, and one of the candidates is this guy, Michael Ballweg. /1

Michael Ballweg is deep into the 'Querdenker' movement - an organizer, in fact. This takes him to rallies where he speaks alongside members of Far Right groups and anti-vaxxers who oppose masks and lockdowns. /2

Michael Ballweg claims that his company, that produced software, was boycotted due to his political belief.

Really, Bosch, Thyssen-Krupp and another company ended contracts with him last year because he discontinued the product. (German) swr.de/swraktuell/bad… /3

Now it's come out that Michael Ballweg is Scientologist, and is using Scientology premises to organise. He's not denying it. Germans have a fraught relationship with the group, calling it a cult.

This is not going down well, even within conspiracy-addled 'Querdenker' circles. /4

Now, there's even a sex scandal, with someone claiming to release DMs that suggest a little bit of extra-marital fun with Michael in the disabled toilets. /5

https://twitter.com/LadyRedAnon/status/1294612284795490304?s=19

Unlike Trump, however, there's little hope of him getting near power. Still, the next couple of days will call for lots of 🍿locally. /FIN