Matthias Miersch, the chair of the SPD parliamentary group, stated that the democracy in Germany is endangered by the increasing influence of the AfD. Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” on Monday, Miersch described the current situation as unprecedented in the Federal Republic of Germany, asserting that democracy is under “massive pressure” a concern he sees mirrored in other countries.
Miersch voiced support for Thuringian Interior Minister Georg Maier, who had previously warned about risks to the security architecture should the AfD achieve electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt. Maier had rightly pointed out that if the AfD gains influence in committees dealing with state security and constitutional protection matters, the situation could become highly sensitive. Such involvement carries the risk of disseminating information to the very groups that ought to be under investigation. Consequently, Miersch stressed that critical institutional issues, such as the resilience of government authorities and courts, must be brought to the forefront of the debate.
Beyond these concerns, Miersch appealed directly to the public, urging citizens to recognize “what is at stake”. Although he acknowledged that Germany has deficiencies, he noted that many people globally would desire to live in the country. For these reasons, he expressed hope that the democratic political forces would ultimately prevail in the current debate.