defense of Constitution
Haldenwang gets support for AfD statements
In connection with the AfD’s European election meeting, the President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, said that “various candidates for election had expressed right-wing extremist conspiracy theories”. photo
© Christoph Soeder/dpa
Even after a cease and desist application from the AfD, the President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution reiterated his criticism of the party. There is now tailwind from various parties.
The President of the Federal Office for The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, received support from various parties for his statements on the AfD.
“The AfD is woven into right-wing extremist contexts in this country. It is the duty of the security authorities, first and foremost the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, to keep a close eye on this danger and to share the knowledge gained,” said the parliamentary director of the Greens, Irene Mihalic, of the “world ” (Wednesday).
In connection with the AfD’s European election meeting, Haldenwang spoke of the fact that “various candidates for election had expressed right-wing extremist conspiracy theories”. On the other hand, the party defended itself in court with an urgent application and demanded an injunction. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution then undertook to refrain from making critical statements during the second part of the party event last weekend in a “standstill agreement”. Immediately after this period expired, Haldenwang reiterated his statements. He also spoke of fulfilling his legal mandate by informing the public.
SPD: Informing is part of Haldenwang’s job
The domestic political spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sebastian Hartmann, told the “Welt” that the AfD was on a “course of continuous radicalization”. Haldenwang is right with his statements that informing the public is part of his statutory duty.
The parliamentary director of the FDP parliamentary group, Stephan Thomae, said: “It is at his own discretion whether Mr. Haldenwang wants to comment publicly on this.” In terms of content, he shares the view of the head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
According to the newspaper, the Union said that the protection of the constitution primarily serves as an early warning system. “I almost expect Mr. Haldenwang to point out extremist activities as soon as he discovers them,” said CDU domestic politician Alexander Throm.
Martina Renner, spokeswoman for anti-fascist politics, said on behalf of the left, which basically calls for the abolition of the protection of the constitution: “The AfD is not a democratic party. If you are of the opinion that a democracy needs a politically active secret service, then that’s how it is an assessment is the task of the protection of the constitution.”
The AfD, on the other hand, renewed its sharp criticism of Haldenwang. Stephan Brandner, deputy federal spokesman for the party, said: “Thomas Haldenwang is not learning. In order to keep his job as a CDU member under an SPD interior minister, he probably has to act so unteachably.”