Police Union Warns Against Citizen Militias in Germany: A Threat to Internal Security and the Rule of Law
Merz expresses opposition to the Bürgerwehr in Germany.
The formation of private citizen militias to combat illegal immigration, as seen in the Netherlands, has sparked concern among German authorities. Chancellor Friedrich Merz maintains that such actions are illegal in Germany, but the German Police Union (GdP) warns of the dangers this trend could pose to the country's internal security and its rule of law.
Merz believes that the responsible authorities, including the Federal Police and border control officials, would prevent any attempts to establish citizen militias. However, the Police Union's Federal Chairman, Jochen Kopelke, criticizes the development. He claims that citizen militias are forming in countries like Poland and Belgium and it's only a matter of time before similar structures establish themselves in Germany.
Kopelke emphasizes that citizen militias at the city bridge in Frankfurt (Oder) pose a significant threat to internal security and trust in the sovereign rule of law. The head of the Federal Police department in the GdP, Andreas Rosskopf, shares similar sentiments, expressing concern that such initiatives by citizens could lead to an increase in aggression. He strongly advises against the establishment of citizen militias.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, while playing down the issue, has stated that there is no legal basis for such actions. However, the police union criticizes the legal uncertainty caused by decisions like the Berlin Administrative Court's ruling against the deportation of three Somalis, which they believe has restrained officers and potentially emboldened smuggling gangs.
The situation in the Netherlands, where right-wing politician Geert Wilders' actions and the formation of private citizen militias have caused instability, serves as a cautionary tale for Germany. As new elections approach in the EU country, the German police union urges the authorities to address the issue proactively and ensure the maintenance of internal security and the rule of law.
Politics Geert Wilders Delighted: Dutch Play Border Guards - Government ReactsFriedrich MerzAlexander DobrindtBorder ControlsBorder DisputeRejections at BordersPolice Trade UnionNetherlandsPolandBelgium
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Citizen militias or community defense groups are not common in many European countries, with professional law enforcement agencies typically entrusted with security duties. In Germany, while there are informal community initiatives focused on neighborhood watch programs or similar community safety projects, formal citizen militias are not officially recognized or supported by the government. The concepts in Poland, Belgium, and other European countries differ, with paramilitary organizations and community defense forces present in some Eastern European countries during times of geopolitical tension. However, these are not widespread or formally sanctioned in most countries. The German Police Union's concern about the formation of citizen militias highlights the potential threats they could pose to internal security and the rule of law in European countries.
- The German Police Union's warning about the emergence of citizen militias in Germany is rooted in the observations of such groups in countries like Poland and Belgium, which could potentially lead to similar structures in Germany, posing a threat to internal security and the rule of law.
- The rise of private citizen militias, as seen in the Netherlands, has sparked concerns among German authorities, especially the German Police Union (GdP), due to their potential impact on internal security, the rule of law, and trust in the sovereign rule of law, much like the situation in the Netherlands where right-wing politician Geert Wilders' actions have caused instability.
