BERLIN (AP) — A German regional lawmaker admitted Friday that he drew a swastika next to a far-right candidate's name in a state parliament vote and said he was giving up his post as a deputy speaker of the legislature.
The speaker of the legislature in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said Thursday that someone had drawn the Nazi symbol on a ballot paper in a vote for a regional cross-border body that includes representatives from Germany as well as neighboring France and Switzerland.
The far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party, known by its acronym AfD, had tried and failed to get nominees elected.
Using the swastika is illegal in Germany and falls under a ban on the symbols of unconstitutional organizations.
The speaker, Muhterem Aras, described the incident as “a disgrace for this parliament.” But, since it was a secret vote, it was not immediately clear who was responsible.
On Friday, Daniel Born, a deputy speaker of the legislature and member of the center-left Social Democrats, said that he had drawn the symbol next to the name of an AfD lawmaker.
He described his actions in a statement as a “serious mistake” and apologized. He said that he was stepping down as deputy speaker and leaving his party's parliamentary group.
Aras called for him to give up his parliamentary seat, German news agency dpa reported.
Born said that he had not intended to make out that a far-right lawmaker had drawn the symbol. “On the contrary, in a knee-jerk reaction, I wanted to show that votes for AfD are always votes for right-wing hatred and agitation, no matter in what election," he said.
AfD has firmly established itself as a force in German politics since it was formed 12 years ago, even as it has drifted steadily to the right.
In Germany's national election in February, it finished second with 20.8% of the vote, and is now the biggest opposition party in Berlin. However, mainstream parties refuse to work with it.
Born said in his statement that “it no longer leaves me a minute's peace” that people are increasingly getting used to the party.
A general view of the Baden-Wuerttemberg state legislature in Stuttgart, Germany, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Bernd Weissbrod/dpa via AP)
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves for his NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season, Anthony Duclair scored the game's only goal in the third period on the power play and the New York Islanders edged the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Thursday night.
Duclair broke the deadlock with 6:18 remaining in the third period after Calum Ritchie sent a backhand pass to him. Mathew Barzal also assisted on the goal, giving him 500 career points in his 576th game over 10 NHL seasons.
Leon Draisaitl — whose tripping penalty put the Islanders on the power play for their goal — nearly tied it with just over 30 seconds left, but his shot in close hit off the far post to the right of Sorokin.
Connor McDavid, who would've had an assist if Draisaitl's shot went in, had his 20-game points streak end. He joined Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only three players in Oilers franchise history to have a points streak of at least 20 games.
It was the 27th career shutout for Sorokin, extending his franchise record. It was the Islanders' first shutout in Edmonton since Billy Smith also stopped 35 shots in New York's 2-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final.
The Islanders, who have won four of six overall, had lost their last six games in Edmonton, dating to 2017. They were 1-12-0 against the Oilers in Edmonton since the 2007-08 season.
Connor Ingram made 17 saves for the Oilers, who have dropped three of their last four.
Islanders: Play at Calgary on Saturday.
Oilers: Play at Vancouver on Saturday night.
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New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) takes a shot on net against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) makes a save against New York Islanders' Kyle MacLean (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Islanders' Anthony Duclair (11) celebrates with his teammates at the bench after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save the against Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie (64) checks Edmonton Oilers' Curtis Lazar (20) in front of Islanders' goalie Ilya Sorokin (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
