The German Green Party is initiating legal scrutiny into limiting the federal government’s obligation to answer parliamentary inquiries submitted by the Alternative for Germany (AfD), citing concerns over potential national security risks and alleged Russian influence. Irene Mihalic, parliamentary group leader for the Greens, articulated the escalating concern in remarks to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, emphasizing the constitutional necessity for careful consideration when fulfilling such requests, particularly given the perceived risk of leaked information.
The core of the debate revolves around the suspicion that the AfD is susceptible to Russian intelligence operations, with information obtained through parliamentary inquiries potentially being diverted for purposes detrimental to Germany’s interests. Mihalic argues that while responding to parliamentary questions is a constitutional duty, the potential for compromised information necessitates a comprehensive legal review to explore all avenues afforded by the Basic Law.
This initiative is being coupled with intensified calls for the center-right CDU/CSU coalition to seriously consider initiating proceedings for a potential AfD ban. Mihalic pointedly urged leaders like Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to “show their colours” and engage in a rigorous assessment of the AfD’s actions, suggesting that the party’s conduct poses a tangible threat to German national security and is vulnerable to “all forms of Russian influence.
The momentum for restriction also comes from within the CDU itself. Marc Henrichmann, Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, has publicly voiced support for limiting information sharing with AfD representatives. Henrichmann cited “compelling evidence” suggesting Russian-directed espionage utilizing the AfD, arguing that the balance between parliamentary freedom and credible suspicions of espionage necessitates preventing sensitive information from being shared in written form. The growing consensus within the German political establishment signals a hardening stance against the AfD and a deepening concern over the potential for foreign interference in German domestic politics.