German politician Jan van Aken, leader of the Left party, has accused the German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of downplaying the threat of right-wing extremism. According to van Aken, Dobrindt’s statements in the newly released report on the domestic intelligence agency’s activities are a step back from the standards set by his predecessor, Horst Seehofer. The Left party leader claims that the right-wing extremist potential and the number of right-wing extremist violent offenders have dramatically increased and that the phenomenon is not limited to political discourse, but is also manifesting on the streets, posing a threat to many people.
Van Aken attributes this development to a government that is pursuing a policy against migrants, in violation of the law and notes that the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), is the most powerful organization in the German right-wing extremist scene. The AfD, he says, represents positions and pursues goals that are directed against democracy and the rule of law. The politician is calling for a constitutional court review of the AfD’s activities, citing the findings of the domestic intelligence agency and numerous studies and research by science and civil society.
In a scathing critique, van Aken accused the government of adopting the language and demands of those who seek to dismantle democracy and warned that this approach will not end well. He is urging the government to take concrete and effective measures to protect the upcoming Pride events, which are expected to take place in the coming weeks.