After “Reichsbürger” raids
Högl: Crack down on right-wing extremists in the troops
Eva Högl is the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Among the arrested “Reich citizens” are also active and former soldiers. The military commissioner calls for faster trials against suspected extremist members of the Bundeswehr.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces calls for more speed and ambition in the fight against right-wing extremism in the Bundeswehr. “Violations must be consistently prosecuted and punished under service law and criminal law. This must be done quickly,” said SPD politician Eva Högl (SPD) to the editorial network Germany. She spoke against the background of the nationwide raids on suspicion of terrorism in the “Reichsbürger” scene, which also focused on active and former soldiers.
Högl said the trials against suspected extremist soldiers were too lengthy. “Currently, the procedures take far too long, often years in the military service courts. Around a quarter of the judges’ positions have been vacant for years.” And the military disciplinary attorney’s office, which conducts the proceedings, must have more staff. In addition, according to her, there is still an amendment to the Soldiers’ Act with the aim of enabling the dismissal of temporary soldiers in the future even after more than four years.
Federal prosecutors arrested 25 people on Wednesday, including former officers and police officers. She accuses 22 of those arrested of being a member of a terrorist organization that wanted to overthrow the political system. Three arrested are considered supporters. The 23 suspects arrested in Germany are in custody. Weapons were also seized during searches.
“Reich citizens” are people who do not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures. As “citizens in uniform”, however, soldiers in the Bundeswehr are subject to the duty of loyalty and must commit themselves to defending Germany’s free, democratic basic order.