German Greens’ Parliamentary Business Manager Blames Far-Right and Mainstream Parties for Social Polarization
In the wake of a surge in politically motivated crimes, the parliamentary business manager of the German Greens, Irene Mihalic, has accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) of deliberately eroding social cohesion and fueling hate and violence.
Mihalic, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, attributed the record-high levels of politically motivated crime to the various elections held last year, stating that the AfD’s online discourse is deliberately supported by authoritarian regimes.
The Greens’ politician also criticized the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) for their populist rhetoric, particularly during the election campaign, which she claimed had unnecessarily heated up the political atmosphere.
Mihalic urged the CDU to tone down its anti-migration rhetoric and cease verbal attacks on the democratic civil society, instead of inciting hatred and division.
Moreover, the Greens’ representative lamented the alarming rise in anti-Semitic crimes, emphasizing the need for a consistent legal pursuit of perpetrators, as well as more political education and prevention measures.
Noting that the Middle East conflict should not be used as an excuse for anti-Semitic crimes, Mihalic called for all actors to clearly distance themselves from such acts and provide better protection for Jewish communities.