Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier has reignited accusations against the Alternative for Germany (AfD), alleging a concerted effort to destabilize the state parliament through an overwhelming volume of inquiries. Maier argues that the sheer number of “small questions” ( Kleine Anfragen) submitted by AfD lawmakers surpasses legitimate oversight and represents a deliberate strategy to disrupt parliamentary functions.
“What manpower is required to answer all these small questions?” Maier posed to ntv, highlighting the burden placed on state authorities. The AfD has reportedly filed over 1,000 such inquiries within the first year of the current legislative period, a figure Maier suggests is unsustainable. He alluded to the ease with which such inquiries can be generated – even suggesting the potential use of artificial intelligence in question formulation – while stressing the meticulous and resource-intensive nature of preparing comprehensive answers.
Moving beyond simple accusations of legislative obstruction, Maier warned against complacency, drawing parallels to historical instances where democratic institutions were undermined through legally permissible means. “We must abandon the notion that the AfD constantly breaks laws to harm democracy” he stated. “The party is all too willing to utilize democratic rights and instruments themselves to attack democracy from within.
He provided specific examples to illustrate his concerns, citing AfD lawmaker Ringo Mühlmann’s submission of eight Kleine Anfragen related to drone defense in a single day in July. These inquiries, Maier claimed, moved beyond basic information requests, delving into granular details regarding police training, equipment testing and collaborative efforts with federal or state agencies – effectively exceeding the capacity of a single parliamentarian to reasonably process.
The escalating situation raises critical questions about the responsibility of parliamentarians and the potential for exploiting democratic processes to achieve political objectives. Maier’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in safeguarding democratic institutions against internal pressures and the potential for strategically weaponizing procedural mechanisms. His appeal for increased awareness echoes a deeper concern: that the relentless barrage of inquiries, even if technically legal, is intended to cripple governmental efficiency and erode public trust.