Evelyn Zupke, the re-elected SED Victim Commissioner in the Bundestag, stated that she aims to educate voters in Eastern Germany about the true value of democracy. Speaking to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (the Friday editions), Zupke pointed out that surveys indicate that more than half of the population in Eastern Germany is dissatisfied and does not feel they are living in a democracy. Consequently, she considers it a crucial part of her duty to clearly delineate the difference between the SED dictatorship of the past and the democratic reality today, extending this message to the upcoming elections.
Zupke countered the notion of declining democracy by asserting, “We do not live in a dictatorship; we live in a democracy-despite all the problems that need to be discussed”. While she linked this statement to the AfD, she broadened her concern to include the BSW and the Left party, noting that these groups have-or continue to have-such tendencies. According to the SED Commissioner, the warning applies to all extremist spectrums. She added that while discussions about the AfD naturally dominate the election narrative, the issue is much wider. This concern takes on immediate significance as new local parliaments are scheduled for elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt this September, where the AfD is currently leading the polls.