extremism
Nationwide entry ban against right-wing Martin Sellner
Martin Sellner, right-wing activist from Austria. photo
© Sebastian Willnow/dpa
The new right-wing thinker Martin Sellner became known nationwide after the meeting of radical right-wingers in Potsdam. The state capital Potsdam then initiated a procedure: entry ban, effective immediately.
A good two months after the revelations about a meeting of radical right-wingers in Potsdam, the city has a nationwide entry ban against the Austrian participant Martin Sellner obtained it. Sellner, former head of the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement in Austria, made this public on Tuesday on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The city of Potsdam confirmed the entry ban, but did not mention Sellner’s name. Sellner wants to take legal action against the ban, but will stick to it for the time being.
The background is a lecture by Sellner at the Potsdam meeting in November, which became known through a publication by the media company Correctiv in January. Sellner said he had spoken about so-called remigration. What he means by this is that people with foreign roots have to leave Germany en masse, including people with a German passport, as he writes in a new book with the same title.
After the “Correctiv” publication, mass demonstrations against right-wing extremists and the AfD began across the country. The AfD was represented by several members in Potsdam. Members of the CDU and the very conservative Union of Values also took part.
“Show that the state is not powerless”
Potsdam’s mayor Mike Schubert explained the entry ban: “We have to show that the state is not powerless and uses its legitimate means. The demonstrations and rallies were an important signal. We are making it clear that democracy is defensible. To protect fundamental rights and the constitution , the institutions must use their resources.”
A spokeswoman for the city of Potsdam emphasized that “we cannot comment on personal procedures. However, we can confirm that the state capital of Potsdam has issued a decision on the implementation of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU) to determine the loss of the right to freedom of movement in the Federal Republic of Germany sent to an EU citizen.”
The decision can be enforced immediately – so “the entry ban applies immediately in principle”. If the person concerned is currently in Germany, he or she would have to leave within one month. However, he could appeal against the decision regarding the loss of the right to freedom of movement and also against the immediate enforcement.
“That’s exactly what’s going to go to court now.”
Sellner presented the decision from Potsdam on his video on The decision sets out violations of the free democratic basic order, but here the “Basic Law is interpreted in a completely distorting way,” said the Austrian.
“That is exactly what will now go to court,” announced Sellner. His lawyer will initiate both urgent and main proceedings. He expects the urgent procedure to take up to two months. If legal steps are unsuccessful, he reserves the right to take other steps, said Sellner. At the same time, he explained that he was currently in Austria and would not be entering the Federal Republic for the time being. Upcoming appearances in Germany have been canceled.
State authorities are generally responsible for refusing entry, in this case the immigration authorities in Potsdam. The federal police would have to enforce the nationwide entry ban, for example, as part of border controls. After entering Germany, a person who is banned from entering and staying could be deported. In addition, entry despite a ban is a criminal offense and can have criminal consequences.