Green Party leader Felix Banaszak has softened his earlier remarks suggesting that soldiers might “desert” should a member of the AfD party serve as Defense Minister. He originally made these comments in a YouTube video titled “Jung & Naiv”. When asked what military personnel should do if the AfD were in charge of the defense ministry, he had stated that they could still desert.
Addressing the media, Banaszak clarified that the conversation revolved around a hypothetical scenario and that his response was “emotionally charged”. He stressed that his comments were in no way a legal assessment and should not be interpreted as a call to action.
Despite his retraction, the potential for “right-wing extremists [to] receive political responsibility over security agencies or the armed forces” remains a deep concern for him. He emphasized that soldiers serve as the military pillar of the constitutional, democratic order, and they must be encouraged not only to think independently but also not to obey blindly. However, Banaszak added that the most critical thing is for Democrats to take all necessary steps to ensure that “right-wing extremists never come into such a position”.