A Rotterdam city councilwoman has been expelled from her party after using an excessively AI-retouched promotional photo in her election campaign. What began as a simple image editing controversy has escalated into a matter of public trust, drawing attention both domestically and internationally.
According to Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad and other outlets on Tuesday, the regional party Leefbaar Rotterdam (Liveable Rotterdam) announced the expulsion of Patricia Reichmann (59), who had won the council seat representing the Blijdorp-Bergpolder-Liskwartier district.
Reichmann came under scrutiny after the official candidate photo she submitted to a local newspaper following her election on May 18 was found to differ significantly from her actual appearance. Critics alleged she had used generative AI to edit the photo, making herself appear unrecognizably younger.
Reichmann denied using AI, stating, "The resolution of the photo published in the local newspaper was too low, so I simply improved the quality using an online tool." She added, "The person in the photo is clearly myself, and my appearance may look somewhat different due to medication I am currently taking."
She further claimed, "When I go out with my son, people often mistake me for his girlfriend," and "I frequently hear that I look much younger than my age."
However, her explanation only fueled the controversy. Side-by-side comparisons of the before and after images spread rapidly online, with critics calling them "completely different people." The situation intensified when allegations emerged that Reichmann does not actually reside in the district she represents. She countered that she owns two properties and her residence is within the district.
In a statement, Leefbaar Rotterdam determined that "the photo was heavily edited with AI and does not represent reality," and demanded Reichmann return her seat.
When she refused, the party proceeded with expulsion, stating, "If information provided during the selection process does not match reality, there is no basis to maintain trust." Reichmann remains in office as an independent following her expulsion.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns about authenticity and trust among public office candidates as AI image generation and editing tools become increasingly prevalent in politics.
Observers noted that the case exposes the weak verification structures in local politics, which largely rely on information candidates provide themselves, while also demonstrating how quickly a seemingly minor photo controversy can escalate when combined with more serious allegations.