The looming AfD party congress in Erfurt, slated for early July, has triggered stark warnings from Bundestag Vice-President Bodo Ramelow, who drew unsettling parallels to the political climate preceding the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Ramelow cautioned that the entire nation should be acutely aware of the significance of the event.
The choice of Erfurt, where the next state election will be held, is viewed by Ramelow as a deliberate and alarming maneuver. He argues it represents a deliberate display of deference to the controversial figure of Björn Höcke, the former leader of the now-dissolved “Flügel” faction within the AfD, effectively discarding any remaining pretense of moderation. Ramelow directly stated the choice demonstrates the party’s willingness to be perceived as openly right-wing extremist.
Ramelow’s statement wasn’t simply a metaphorical warning. He specifically referenced the 1924 Thuringian state election, arguing it serves as a crucial historical lesson, citing it as the point where “the door was opened” for extremist forces. He contends that Höcke, himself a former history teacher, is acutely aware of this historical precedent. The 1924 election resulted in a minority government reliant on nationalist factions, foreshadowing the later consolidation of power.
The current political landscape in Thuringia, governed by a fragile “Brombeerkoalition” (literally “blackberry coalition”) comprised of the CDU, SPD and the recently formed BSW, mirrors those volatile early years in some respects, requiring the support of Die Linke on critical decisions such as the budget. This precarious balance underscores the fragility of the democratic system.
Ramelow emphasized the AfD’s growing influence and danger not just in Thuringia but also in Saxony. He highlighted the party’s use of its “Sperrminorität” (blocking minority) – holding more than a third of parliamentary seats – to obstruct key functions of the state, citing the inability to elect new judges and prosecutors as an example. He warned that this obstructionism directly threatens the rule of law, raising serious concerns about the long-term stability of the democratic institutions in Thuringia and beyond. The situation, he argues, requires a robust and critical response from all political actors.