German Economics Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) has called for tough action by the security authorities against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with Habeck claiming the party wants to “destroy democracy” and “turn Germany into a state like Russia.”
The minister outlined to Stern magazine a detailed picture of what the intelligence services, police and public prosecutors now have to do against the AfD.
“So the security authorities must also take systematic action, collect evidence, keep a close eye on sub-groups, individuals, events and statements,” said Habeck.
Habeck says that he will not rule out an AfD ban, but was concerned that such an application could fail before the Federal Constitutional Court. Such an outcome would benefit the AfD.
“The right-wing autocrats want to attack the essence of the republic,” Habeck continued. “They want to turn Germany into a state like Russia. They are systematically preparing for this.”
Habeck did not give any examples to support his claims; however, the AfD has never called for ending the democratic process or installing a dictator. In fact, the party has actually called for Swiss-style nationwide referendums to be made available to the German public to increase democracy in the country.
It is the Greens, the Left party, and the SPD who are currently calling for a ban on an opposition party, a move typically seen in countries like Russia or Ukraine.
There is enormous pressure on Germany’s entire political establishment due to the rise of the AfD, with the latest poll putting the party at 24 percent nationwide, while the ruling left-liberal government is crashing to new lows.
State elections will also take place in the autumn of 2024 in the east, where the AfD is incredibly popular and currently comfortably in first place. In states such as Saxony, the AfD may perform so well that it attains an absolute majority, allowing it to rule without coalition partners.
Habeck called for “toughness in line with our laws” against the AfD. In his opinion, this also included “consistent punishment of criminal offenses.”
Those who want to “destroy democracy” must be “brought to justice with the means of the rule of law,” the Green politician continued. If a party wants to “turn Germany into a fascist state, it should be banned, no matter how strong it is.”
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Habeck is not the only politician going on the offensive against the AfD, with Social Democrat (SPD) leader Lars Klingbeil calling AfD leader Alice Weidel a “right-wing extremist.”
“I think she is a right-wing extremist. She bears responsibility in a right-wing extremist party,” he said.
Currently, the AfD is officially designated as “definitely right-wing extremist” in Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt by the country’s hyper-politicized top domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, while on the national level, it is considered a “suspected” case. The designation allows for massive intrusions into the party’s members and politicians, allowing agents to monitor their emails, phone calls and other forms of communications without probable cause. Their only “crime” has to be membership in the party. However, AfD’s membership continues to soar as Germans flock to the party.
Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge is calling for mass protests against the AfD, telling RND: “We are now all called upon — in our personal environment, at work, at sport, when shopping — to make it clear together that by voting for the AfD, we are voting for right-wing extremists who represent a danger to democracy.”
