Germany Mulls Putting Right-wing AfD on Surveillance as Party Surges in Polls
AfD party now the second biggest party in Germany
After days of unrest in eastern Germany, German politicians are calling for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) to be placed under police surveillance. In a move that is seen as precursor to a nationwide surveillance of the party, German authorities placed the youth wing of the AfD in the states of Lower Saxony and Bremen under police observation.
Thomas Oppermann, the vice president of the German parliament, said the German intelligence service BfV should monitor the AfD party for possible links to far-right groups. “The refugee question divides society, and the AfD is riding ever more radically on this wave,” Oppermann told German newspaper Die Welt. “That is why security services should be watching the collaboration between the AfD and neo-Nazis very closely.”
Eastern Germany has been hit by a string of protests after the fatal stabbing of a German by a group of Arab immigrants in the city of Chemnitz. Thousands took to the streets since early last week calling for an end to Chancellor Angel Merkel’s open borders policy.
Politicians from Merkel’s Christian Democratic party (CDU) also called for similar measures against the AfD:
Patrick Sensburg, security spokesperson for the CDU, told [public broadcaster] NDR Info that the AfD needs to be monitored by the domestic intelligence service (BfV). “Surely, most of the AfD members are not right-wing extremists, but there are part of the party structure that should be classified as anti-constitutional,” Sensburg told [the newspaper] Handelsblatt. Armin Schuster, the CDU’s expert on interior policy, had recently called for the AfD to be place under scrutiny by the domestic intelligence service at the state-level. The AfD is “increasingly becoming a case for the domestic intelligence services,” especially as [the AfD] party chief Alexander Gauland “has to distance himself for the faux pas by one of his fellow party member on monthly-basis,” Schuster said. [translated by the author]
Founded in 2013, the AfD emerged as the third-largest party in parliament last year after it won nearly 13 percent of the vote.
German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported the attempts by the established parties to put the AfD on state surveillance:
This week politicians from Germany’s more mainstream parties were calling for closer surveillance of the AfD’s links with these kinds of groups. If it happens, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution would be given the job.
Historically, this office, known as the BfV, has had the task of monitoring extremism in Germany. The BfV is almost unique in Europe (Hungary and Austria also have something similar) and was created in 1950 by Allied powers to surveil a resurgent Communist party as well as keep an eye out for any kind of Nazi party revival after World War II. It was set up under the auspices of protecting Germany’s brand new constitution. [Handelsblatt, September 3, 2018]
The AfD, on the other hand, accused the established parties of using the state apparatus to stem party’s rising popularity. “The call for the AfD to be observed by the BfV is more than a desperate act by the helpless older parties. We’re seeing the desire for an abuse of power unmatched in reunified Germany,” said Andreas Kalbitz, the top AfD politician from the state of Brandenburg.
The tough talk by the politicians from the Merkel’s ruling coalitions apparently didn’t harm the party since the AfD became the second biggest party in a latest opinion poll. With 17 percent of the popular support, the party is trailing only Merkel’s Christian Democratic party (CDU).
The surging poll numbers for the AfD is part of the wider trend in Europe. Ahead of the Sunday’s vote, the Sweden Democrats are polling between 20 and 25 percent, making them potentially the second largest party in parliament. Italy, Austria, and most of the eastern European countries are governed by anti-EU and anti-mass immigration parties.
The excesses by the European Union and Chancellor Merkel’s open borders policy have triggered a ‘Patriotic Spring’ across Europe–to use a phrase coined by the Dutch politician Geert Wilders. With mainstream media failing to sway public opinion against the anti-establishment parties and movements, political establishment now seeks to criminalize dissent by using state apparatus.
Video: Street clashes in eastern Germany after deadly stabbing spree by immigrant suspects
[Cover image via YouTube]
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Absolutely no surprise. The AfD are about the only political force in Germany right now that is NOT supporting the ongoing cultural suicide, and for that, they get shoved into the “right-wing” corner and are loudly condemned by all Correct-thinking Gutmenschen. Remember, everyone: There is no “right wing” in Germany. They are ALL socialists and collectivists, and those who are labeled right wing are simply National Socialists instead of International Socialists. The “right wing” is about as far right as Mao and Lenin. The others are much further left.
Dead on, the far “right wing” are really Anarcho Capitalists. As you go left there is more government control and as you go right there is less government control.
Nazis of any flavor cannot be right wing by definition.
That may be a useful definition in the US, but it isn’t in Europe, where the terms “left” and “right” originated.
That is correct, but it doesn’t break my argument. Yes, the kooks sat on the left at the time of the French revolution. However, while **some** in Europe hold this fallacy, there are many leftists in the US that do as well, in fact I would say the majority of leftists in the US and anywhere else believe that.
I tend to see the political spectrum more in a circle than a straight line.
What divides political parties is whether they believe and defend liberty or not. There is no significant difference between Nazis, Communists, Socialists, Progressives and Muslims as the lies they hide behind are irrelevant.
I usually dismiss any talk about uprisings or popular revolutions against any European government as silly, but I can’t believe I’m seeing the German Government deliberately doing everything it can to make it’s critics think that’s their only option left. What an insane, repressive, bureaucratic way to respond.
Tom, you are forgetting that Merkel grew up in (and was part of) the Communist East Germany. She’s merely reverting to type.
I commend the study of the German phrase “Schild und Schwert der Partei” and its past use to everyone’s attention. Who really won after reunification?
Wiemar? Is that you?
A recent very good, but off the radar spy show called “Berlin Station” seems to have predicted this reality very well.
“Eastern Germany has been hit by a string of protests after the fatal stabbing of a German by a group of Arab immigrants in the city of Chemnitz.”
I’m not German, and I can’t say that I fully comprehend Teutonic justice, but it would seem to me that, given the quoted statement, it is the Arab immigrants who should be surveilled and not AfD.
Aber was weiß ich?
Taking a cue from Herr Obama. Put your opposition under surveillance.
Worked for him – why not?
Oh that’s right – HE GOT CAUGHT (and the facts are STILL COMING OUT).
Europe is LOST – it’s too late. They can’t send them back, and with every increasing legal/illegal migrants flooding EU, they will outnumber (and outvote) them in oh, a decade or so. Meanwhile, increasing violence will either force the “average citizen” to defend themselves, or LEAVE.
Any effort to rid themselves of the problem they created for themselves will be labeled RACISM (because the race card still seems to work over there) or ETHNIC CLEANSING.
Yet another thing to admire Putin for (like or hate the methodology). He has no problem getting rid of undesirable elements – and no interest in allowing them in either.
Europe had to replace/replenish it’s supply of taxpayers/workers – because native europeans are not BREEDING ENOUGH to replace the people retiring from the workforce (or the tax revenue they generate).
Someone had the bright idea to allow all these folks to MIGRATE – thinking they would be grateful for the opportunity to get out of the shithole they were from, live and work decently.
BZZZZZZZZZZZT! WRONG!
In turn they have created a GREATER PROBLEM. A population that neither contributes to the tax base, refuses to assimilate, demands cultures bend to THEIR CULTURE, and create a crime-wave of acts that were pretty much “status quo” where they came from.
Watch as Europe burns, and Erdogan installs himself as the head of a NEW CALIPHATE, wihout firing a single shot.
Rick
Hey Rick, this is Morty and THIS SUCKS! I want to go HOME!
If the government will not act to protect its people, then what is left to do? The people will act to protect themselves out of necessity. The people have two enemies: Merkel and her government and the new ‘migrants’. In time the people will need fire arms.
That is why they generally aren’t allowed to have them without strict controls.
I see the old government of East Germany is still alive and well.
You know who else has opposition political parties put under surveillance? Hitler. Oh, and Obama.
Guess they didn’t learn anything from the Soviets
The refugee crises were forced by a progressive anti-native sentiment and a cover-up of social justice adventures (e.g. elective wars, regime changes) to secure natural resources and disenfranchise people. What happened to the children lost on the trail of tears and the people left behind for ostensibly social progress?
I’d be willing to bet that they’re already under surveillance. The Deep State is multinational; it’s a lifestyle, and they all operate fairly similarly.
You’d think that the Germans would be more sensitive to the appearance of having a police state but it never seems that way. Merkel in particular seems to nostalgic for the good old days of the 1930s.
The German establishment is panicking. They actually think if they bring the state apparatus down of AfD that it will make everything sweet and kind again. That’s potentially like trying to put a small fire out with gasoline and liquid oxygen.
The Reichstag Fire. A fire which broke out at the Reichstag building was blamed on the Communist Party (KPD). As a result the KPD, which was the second largest party in Germany, was banned. The banning of the Communist party gave the Nazis a clear majority in government.
27th February 1933
Different mechanism same effect.
Weird how the people that are forever accusing others of being “NAZI’s” seem to ALWAYS behave precisely as the NAZI’s did.
Well the Trump campaign was put under surveillance and the perpetrators seem to have gotten away with it…..