The Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, is calling for a coordinated national and regional effort to safeguard against internal erosion of the state’s foundations. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” Lies emphasized the urgency of the matter, expressing his “strong request” to the Federal Interior Minister, Dobrindt and the Interior Ministers of the individual states to develop a strategy to protect the democratic system. He underscored that historical experience has demonstrated the importance of proactive measures.
Lies’ statement follows increasing scrutiny of political organizations within Germany. Should courts confirm the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution’s assessment of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as “reliably right-wing extremist” he indicated that legal proceedings for a potential ban would become unavoidable. “If a ban is necessary to protect the fundamental tenets of democracy, then we must initiate that process” Lies stated. The call highlights a growing concern amongst political leaders regarding the maintenance of the democratic order and the potential threats arising from within.