German Interior Minister Thomas Strobl of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the state of Baden-Württemberg emphasizes the importance of unity in addressing the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. According to Strobl, it is crucial for the government to be close to the concerns of the people and to address the issues that move them, in order to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies from the heart of society.
At the recent Interior Ministers’ Conference in Bremerhaven, the ministers collectively worked on finding solutions that meet the public’s demand for security and the conference demonstrated the democracy’s ability to take action, Strobl said, looking back on the three-day event that concluded on Friday. The key, he emphasized, is for all interior ministers, regardless of party affiliation, to develop a strong unity in dealing with the AfD.
The federal government and the states are closely coordinating their approach to extremist activities, Strobl noted and the Interior Ministers’ Conference will, in the event that the AfD is officially deemed an extremist party by the courts, develop a joint assessment of the implications for the public service, the civil service, the right to bear arms and security checks. In his view, a strict standard will be applied: “No weapons for extremists, no extremists in the police and the public service and no extremists in the public service at all” the minister said.
In contrast, Hesse’s Interior Minister, Roman Poseck of the CDU, expressed skepticism about the possibility of a ban on the AfD. “I am not alone in having significant doubts that the very high requirements for a party ban cannot be proven with the required degree of probability at the moment” Poseck told the Rheinische Post. He believes that a party ban must be carefully weighed and that a failure would be an additional heavy burden for democracy. Therefore, he argues, one should not recklessly venture into the risk and this is why the Interior Ministers’ Conference in Bremerhaven did not pass a resolution on a party ban.