In the context of strong polling results for the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt, several state interior ministers are demanding that preparatory discussions take place regarding the potential involvement of the party in a state government.
Georg Maier, the Interior Minister of Thuringia (SPD), urged that the topic be placed on the agenda for the upcoming Interior Ministers Conference in Hamburg mid-June. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, Maier stressed the immediate need for consultation on what risks a possible AfD government takes on for Germany’s overall security architecture, and how officials can counteract these dangers. He argued that the AfD poses a threat to both the internal and external security of the Federal Republic due to its numerous connections with authoritarian states and its links to right-extremist fringe organizations. “It cannot happen that confidential information from our security agencies flows out to Russia or into right-extremist circles” he added.
Jan Redmann, the Interior Minister of Brandenburg (CDU), identified serious dangers as well. He told the “Handelsblatt” that allowing a party with partial right-extremist tendencies access to security-sensitive information compromises the safety of everyone. “This is not a theoretical risk; it is a concrete danger” he warned. Redmann emphasized that Germany’s fundamental “security model” is built on trust-trust shared among the federal government, the states, and internationally. “Anyone who questions these values destroys trust” he concluded.
Roman Poseck, the Interior Minister of Hesse (CDU), likewise advocated for preparations in the event of the “worst-case scenario”. Poseck stated that the majority of the states, which are currently governed by the democratic center, alongside the security services beholden to constitutional democracy, would provide the necessary responses to protect democracy and security. He stressed that the procedures of the Interior Ministers Conference themselves would also need to be adjusted. Despite the alarm, he maintained his conviction that the majority of voters in Saxony-Anhalt do not desire a right-extremist government and are fully aware of the potentially disastrous consequences for social life, the economy, and security.