The Thuringian state interior minister, Georg Maier, is maintaining his suspicions that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is engaged in reconnaissance of critical infrastructure, potentially linked to foreign powers. In an interview with “Welt” Maier stated that authoritarian regimes, specifically identifying Russia and China, are attempting to destabilize Germany and its democratic institutions through hybrid threats. He emphasized that there are “demonstrable close connections” between the AfD and these nations and that the sheer volume of detailed parliamentary inquiries regarding highly sensitive and security-relevant areas is “striking.
Internal documents at the Thuringian Interior Ministry detail a concerning pattern of inquiries submitted by AfD parliamentarians focused on critical infrastructure. These requests span a broad range, encompassing the state’s preparedness for civil protection and healthcare, Bundeswehr (German armed forces) activities and assessments of transportation, water supply, digital infrastructure and energy provision. The ministry has compiled 58 such inquiries, forming the basis for Maier’s suspicions.
Beyond the interior ministry’s spokesperson, Ringo Mühlmann, whose inquiries examined topics like the transit of military transports through Thuringia and the state police’s drone defense capabilities, AfD parliamentarian Nadine Hoffmann has been identified as a particularly prolific inquirer regarding critical infrastructure. Hoffmann’s questions, ranging from detailed assessments of fluvial maintenance personnel to inquiries about the usage of water reservoirs in firefighting scenarios, raise concerns about the depth of knowledge sought.
The inquiries themselves, while superficially appearing as legitimate parliamentary oversight, are now under intense scrutiny. Hoffmann has vehemently rejected the accusations, dismissing Maier’s comments as a demonstration of a misunderstanding of parliamentarians’ rights to question the government and the opposition’s role in holding it accountable. She claims her questions are motivated by a desire to address shortcomings within Thuringia and to force improvements where the state government has failed.
However, Maier’s concerns escalate the political tensions surrounding the AfD, already facing scrutiny within Germany for its stance on Russia and its increasingly nationalistic rhetoric. The investigation into the AfD’s inquiries highlights a delicate balance between legitimate parliamentary oversight and the potential for covert intelligence gathering and raises fundamental questions about the security implications of political engagement with potentially adversarial foreign powers. The investigation will likely be a politically charged affair, with significant ramifications for the AfD and the broader landscape of German domestic security.