Bundestag: “Loyal to Putin” – Attacks on AfD in Russia debate

Bundestag
“Loyal to Putin” – Attacks on AfD in Russia debate

Politicians from the traffic light parties, the Union and the Left have the At a current hour in the Bundestag, the AfD was accused of working against Germany’s security and supporting hybrid Russian warfare in the West. The SPD, Greens and FDP had the debate set up after reports of a Russian disinformation campaign and possible connections to AfD MP Petr Bystron.

The pro-Russian internet platform “Voice of Europe” (VoE), which was placed on the national sanctions list by the Czech cabinet, had published, among other things, interviews with Bystron and his party colleague Maximilian Krah. The Czech newspaper “Denik N” had reported that Bystron may also have accepted money. The AfD MP rejected this.

The First Parliamentary Director of the Green Party, Irene Mihalic, said in the debate that the presumption of innocence naturally applies. “But whether money or not, ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to the AfD’s connections to Putin’s Russia, this party has long since lost its innocence.” Mihalic called the AfD a security risk for Germany.

Criticism of trips to Russia and Belarus

Speakers from the SPD, Greens, FDP and Union specifically criticized AfD politicians’ trips to Russia and Belarus as election observers or visits to the Russian embassy and accused the AfD of spreading narratives of Russian war propaganda.

“Apply for a mandate in the Russian State Duma. These are the interests you represent, that’s where you actually belong,” said SPD parliamentary group deputy Dirk Wiese. He accused the AfD of being “the mouthpiece for the Kremlin.” CDU MP Christoph de Vries said that the freedom of Europe and Germany is threatened by Russia more than it has been for many decades. President Vladimir Putin is trying to create a network of supporters across Europe. “In Germany he has also found his useful idiots and enforcers in the AfD.” The deputy FDP parliamentary group leader Konstantin Kuhle said: “If you ignore Sahra Wagenknecht, then there is no one in Germany who is as loyal to Putin as the AfD.” The party is an integral part of the hybrid Russian war machine.

AfD MP Keuter contradicts this

MP Stefan Keuter spoke for the AfD. He accused the traffic light of wanting to use the debate to campaign. Its only aim is to damage the opposition in the Bundestag. Bystron stated that he was not offered any money and did not accept any. “That’s a fact, that’s the end of the matter. Another nonsense. They have no evidence and are trying to damage a family man,” said Keuter and spoke of a witch hunt.

Green Party deputy Konstantin von Notz referred to Keuter. The fact that he, of all people, is being sent into this debate, “who is in Russia so often that you don’t know whether he is a member of the German Bundestag or the Duma. That really puts the crown on everything,” said von Notz.

dpa