Thüringen’s Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) believes that the AfD’s assessments against observation by the Thuringian Constitutional Protection Agency are not convincing and that the Constitutional Protection Agency acts according to law on both federal and state levels. “One must keep in mind who the AfD represents. In my opinion, this is a bid to undermine democracy” he told the “Welt.” “They have a conception of our state system, which they strive for, which I do not want. An authoritarian state.” Additionally, he believes that the assessment is likely biased by an evaluator who is closely associated with the AfD. However, Maier admitted that the assessment must be legally evaluated.
In principle, Maier believes that non-intelligence means should be used to determine that some Thuringian Landtag representatives of the AfD have clearly acted in opposition to a free democratic basic order through their statements.
Regarding a possible ban on the AfD, Maier said: “I believe that there is a very good chance that this procedure can be successfully prosecuted. A party is not automatically democratic just because it is democratically elected” the Social Democrat emphasized. “Ultimately, it only comes down to the contents and what this party strives for. And in my opinion, this is anti-constitutional.