The head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution finds it “pleasant,” and the president of the Central Council of Jews speaks of it as an “important signal”: the nationwide demonstrations against the right are widely praised. People also want to take to the streets on weekends.
Representatives from politics and society have welcomed the numerous demonstrations against the right in German cities. The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution told the “Westdeutsche Zeitung”: “It would be desirable if the silent majority of our population would take a clear position against extremism and anti-Semitism.” Fortunately, many people are currently demonstrating against it.
Haldenwang warned of the danger to democracy in Germany from various developments. All centrist democratic parties have now recognized the seriousness of the situation, said the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. “You can also see this in the fact that the topic of dealing with the AfD is being discussed much more intensively than was the case a few months ago.” A ban on the AfD party is now being discussed.
With a view to the Potsdam meeting of right-wing extremists and the plans for “remigration” discussed there, Haldenwang explained: “Ultimately, extremists mean nothing other than the demand for the expulsion of certain population groups.” This is not compatible with the Basic Law and is directed against the free democratic basic order.
Heil calls for more support from the economy
The President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, described the demonstrations as an “important signal.” “I’m really pleased that the middle of society is standing up,” Schuster told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. “I’ve always had the feeling that you see the AfD’s forecasts and election results, but that doesn’t lure anyone out from behind the stove,” said Schuster. That worried him. “That’s why I’m pleased when people take to the streets now and express their dissatisfaction.”
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil called for more support from business in view of the current developments. “I am happy about every business representative who, like BDI President Rußwurm, takes a clear position against the AfD and Nazis,” Heil told the “Rheinische Post”. “We are an open society, and our economic success is based on this,” emphasized the minister. The German economy is internationally networked. “That’s why we can’t afford racism and nationalism.”
Heil described the AfD as a “location risk” and a party “that not only attacks our democracy, but also harms our country economically and socially.” Qualified specialists that Germany urgently needs would only come if they could be sure that they would not be excluded or even threatened.
Faeser: Memories of the Wannsee Conference
Yesterday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already supported the demonstrators. In a video speech, he said that all people in Germany are called upon to take a clear stand for tolerance, cohesion and democracy. He compared the distribution plans of right-wing radicals with the racial ideology of the National Socialists. “If there is something that should never have a place in Germany again, then it is the ethnic racial ideology of the National Socialists.”
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also expressed similar associations. “This involuntarily brings back memories of the terrible Wannsee conference,” said the SPD politician to the Funke media group. She doesn’t want to equate the two. “But what is hidden behind harmless-sounding terms like ‘remigration’ is the idea of expelling and deporting people en masse because of their ethnic origin or their political views.”
Faeser is skeptical about an AfD ban. “Our constitution rightly provides for this strongest instrument of defensive democracy as the last resort.” There are very high hurdles. Given the circumstances, no one can rule this out. However, this is not a means in the political debate. “If people turn to such a party, we have to ensure that these people come back to the democratic parties.”
Lots of demos on the weekend
In recent days, tens of thousands of people across the country have taken to the streets against right-wing extremism and racism. One of the largest demonstrations took place in Hamburg on Friday. It had to be canceled because many more people came than expected. The police spoke of 50,000 participants, the organizers of 80,000. SPD politician Kazim Abaci from the Entrepreneurs Without Borders association, which also helped organize the demo, even spoke of 130,000 demonstrators. However, only 10,000 participants were registered.
In Münster, 20,000 people responded to a demo call on Friday, and in Bochum more than 10,000 people were on the streets.
Demonstrations have also been registered in many cities this weekend, with large numbers of people expected to attend. Up to 30,000 participants are expected in Frankfurt am Main. In Kassel, Giessen, Limburg and other cities in Hesse, people also want to take to the streets against the right.
The organizers are also expecting significantly more than 10,000 participants at a rally in Hanover on Saturday. Further larger demos are planned in Dortmund, Erfurt and Heidelberg, among others. In Karlsruhe, a demonstration is scheduled to take place past the Federal Constitutional Court. On Sunday, 10,000 to 20,000 participants are expected at a demonstration against the right in Munich alone.