Blasting Brandenburg SPD: Banaszak Slams "Blind to the Right"
Brandenburg SPD under fire after Banaszak's critique: "Lack of foresight"
After the Brandenburg Constitutional Protection Agency classified the AfD as securely right-wing extremist, a whirlwind of controversy ensued. Following the dismissal of the head of the state secret service by Interior Minister Katrin Lange, fingers are pointing, even from the federal level.
In a harsh rebuke, the federal chairman of the Greens, Felix Banaszak, lashed out at the Brandenburg SPD for Lange's move against the department head. "Looking the other way with a closed right eye," he exclaimed to the "Tagesspiegel". The Greens leader also accused the SPD of no longer acknowledging the AfD as the gravest danger to democracy in Brandenburg.
"You'd think that with the AfD being classed as securely right-wing extremist by the constitutional protection agency, the gravity of the situation would be apparent," Banaszak declared, referring to the decision made by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution a week prior. "The AfD isn't just another component of our democratic system - it's its most significant threat," said Banaszak. "However, it appears the SPD in Brandenburg is willfully ignoring this reality, or worse, steering in the opposite direction."
Politics: AfD under Constant Scrutiny
As the dust settles on the Brandenburg SPD's actions, Banaszak also reminded the state's minister-president and SPD state chairman of their promise to prioritize "me or the AfD" during the election campaign. "A move even more sinister is the appointment of an interior minister who is 'blind to the right eye,'" said Banaszak. The dismissal of the constitutional protection chief is a harmful alert. "The SPD must ponder whether it haswb these its distanced itself from the claim to protect our free democratic basic order and its institutions with this decision," said Banaszak.
Woidke Stands by His Minister
Following the announcement that the state AfD has been classed as securely right-wing extremist, the interior ministry in Potsdam explained that Lange relieved Landesverfassungsschutzchef Jörg Mueller of his duties. A spokesperson from the ministry pointed out that the minister was not informed earlier about the new classification, which contributed to the dismissal. "It's all about the manner of communication, not the content of the decision," emphasized the spokesperson. "The classification remains in effect."
In response, Brandenburg's premier, Dietmar Woidke, supported his interior minister. Woidke stated that he was not informed about the new classification before Lange. "Successful collaboration depends on trust, which must exist," said Woidke. On the new AfD classification, he added, "I am unable to provide an assessment, as I am unaware of the data and facts the constitutional protection agency used to base their evaluation."
Policy: No More Faith in Müller
According to the Interior Ministry in Potsdam, Lange rescinded Müller's authority to categorize "observation objects" of the constitutional protection agency. With the cancellation of the 2023 service instruction, which tasked the department head with making the classifications and only notifying the minister and parliament in exceptional cases, the previous instruction is back in effect, meaning the minister retains the power in such cases.
Prior to Banaszak's rebuke, the CDU in Brandenburg had already expressed concerns about Lange's decision. CDU interior spokesman, Rainer Genilke, cast doubt on the minister's claims that the department head was uninformed about the categorization, asserting that Lange was encroaching on the "political independence" of the state constitutional protection agency and risking political influence.
Related: AfD, SPD, Brandenburg, Constitutional Protection, Right-wing Extremism
- The Greens' federal chairman, Felix Banaszak, criticized the Brandenburg SPD for being "blind to the right" in their handling of the AfD, a party classified as securely right-wing extremist by the Brandenburg Constitutional Protection Agency.
- Banaszak accused the Brandenburg SPD of failing to acknowledge the AfD as the gravest danger to democracy, suggesting they were ignoring reality or even steering in the opposite direction.
- He also reminded the Brandenburg minister-president and SPD state chairman of their election campaign promise to prioritize "me or the AfD," implying that the dismissal of the head of the state secret service was a troubling sign.
- The Brandenburg's premier, Dietmar Woidke, supported his interior minister, stating that successful collaboration depends on trust, which was not present in the communication about the AfD's classification.
- The CDU in Brandenburg expressed concerns about the interior minister's decision, with CDU interior spokesman, Rainer Genilke, asserting that the minister was encroaching on the "political independence" of the state constitutional protection agency and risking political influence.
