Interior Minister Katrin Lange under Scrutiny over AfD Classification
Party Under Scrutiny Following AfD Labeling and Dismissal - Minister Under Pressure Following AfD Classification and Subsequent Dismissal
Here's the scoop on the latest political drama in Brandenburg, Germany.
Katrin Lange, the Interior Minister, is finding herself in hot water after the dismissal of the Verfassungsschutz chief, and the subsequent classification of the state AfD as securely right-wing extremist. Lange, an SPD politician, admitted being surprised by the re-evaluation of the AfD by the Verfassungsschutz, leading to personnel consequences. In response, she shared her displeasure with the process, stating, "I am very unhappy about this."
The CDU opposition in the state parliament is skeptical of Lange's claims that she wasn't aware of the AfD's evaluation process. They've requested access to the communication between Lange and Verfassungsschutz chief Jörg Müller. The AfD in Brandenburg isn't backing down either, threatening legal action against the classification.
Notably, Lange is enjoying support from her faction, with Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) simply remarking, "Enough's been said about this." Lange plans to make parts of the extensive report on the AfD's evaluation public, following an internal review.
Lange has dismissed accusations that she wasn't aligned with the upgrading of the state AfD. She states that it's not about the factual evaluation, but the communication and handling between parties. Lange revealed in the interior committee on Wednesday that there were discussions about the AfD's evaluation with departmental management. However, the decision to upgrade the state AfD on April 14 didn't reach her until May 5.
The CDU faction doubts Lange's statement. Suspicions linger, with the opposition speculating that Lange had knowledge of the upgrading of the state AfD as securely right-wing extremist long before May 5. Sources from the Interior Ministry suggest that Lange was adamant that she would be responsible for the final decision on the AfD's classification until early this week. However, a service instruction from the Verfassungsschutz states that leadership had decided on this since 2023. Lange allegedly received knowledge of this service instruction on May 4.
Interestingly, after the breakdown with Müller, Lange put an old service instruction from 2017 into practice, suggesting that the decision on the classification of a party lies with her for the time being. Yet, the current classification of the AfD stands, according to Lange. AfD's state chairman René Springer demands that this classification be withdrawn promptly.
The SPD in the state parliament is considering whether an AfD membership is compatible with employment in the public service. The Jusos, the youth wing of the Social Democrats, view the dismissal of Müller as a "bad sign", urging effective security agencies to combat right-wing extremism.
For further insights, it's worth noting that the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) recently classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" organization at the national level[1][3][4]. This classification could potentially impact public service employment if individuals associated with extremist activities are under scrutiny. However, specific actions or effects on employment policies in Brandenburg remain unspecified in the available information.
Things are heating up in German politics. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation.
Keywords: Katrin Lange, SPD, Brandenburg, Classification, Dismissal, Potsdam, CDU, Jörg Müller, Escalation, Dietmar Woidke
- The EC countries' principle of free movement of workers, freedom to provide services, and freedom of services is being questioned in the political drama in Brandenburg, Germany, particularly in the context of the classification of the state AfD.
- The Brandenburg AfD is threatening legal action against their classification as securely right-wing extremist, a move that could have implications for policy-and-legislation concerning freedom of services and work.
- The SPD politician, Katrin Lange, has dismissed accusations suggesting she was not aligned with the upgrading of the state AfD, emphasizing the importance of proper communication and handling between parties in maintaining these freedoms.
- The escalation in Brandenburg politics has led to discussions within the SPD in the state parliament about whether an AfD membership is compatible with employment in the public service, potentially impacting the freedom to provide services and the general political landscape.
