The Office of Constitutional Protection in Hesse may now keep tabs on the Hesse chapter of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Securing 18.4% of the vote, the AfD managed to earn third place in Wiesbaden's state parliament behind the SPD and the Greens. The CDU, led by Minister-President Boris Rhein, won with a substantial 34.6% victory. The AfD intends to grill key decision-makers in Wiesbaden's coronavirus committee, positioning themselves as the opposition leader.
The AfD has held a seat in Hesse's parliament since 2018, but it hasn't been a smooth ride for them.utdown The party was rocked by the 2023 Neo-Nazi scandal, which saw newly elected AfD member Sascha Herr (44) photographed with a banned far-right extremist group member. Herr, who sported Nazi symbols at a "Rock gegen Überfremdung" concert, was subsequently expelled from the AfD.
Now, more reasons emerge to support the Hessian Office's categorization of the AfD as a potential threat to government. The party has appealed to the court to halt the observation, but the Administrative Court decided that the Hessian AfD is utilizing hate-provoking language and derogatory comparisons against refugees and Muslims that could lead to unpleasant behavior.
National spokespersons Robert Lambrou (56) and Andreas Lichert (48) contest that their party has been inappropriately singled out. At the federal level, the AfD has been categorized as a likely right-wing extremist organization, under BfV surveillance.
According to our sources, the AfD's strong anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric has fueled concerns relating to violent attacks, hate speech, and internal extremist factions. Government agencies have been monitoring AfD activities for possible threats to Germany's democratic order.
- Steve Schlagenhaufer, the Hessian AfD's state spokesperson, is livid over his party being classified by the Hessian Office as a threat.
- Prominent national AfD figure Alice Weidel has decried Frankfurt regional politics as targeting her party with inflammatory accusations of right-wing extremism.
- In response to the BfV's observation of the Hessian AfD, party leader Andreas Pschierer has vowed to continue pushing back on the establishment with unyielding determination.
- The BfV has been keeping a close eye on the federal level AfD for its potential extremist tendencies, and the events in Hesse may bolster those efforts.
- Some experts speculate that the Hesse AfD's classification as a suspected right-wing extremist organization may have implications for other state AfD chapters, increasing scrutiny and pressure on their political activities.
Sources:
Enrichment Insights: - The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has long been under the watchful eye of the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution due to its potential extremist activities. - This includes concerns over the party's strong anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric, promotion of conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial, antisemitism, and violent attacks—all which pose threats to Germany's democratic order. - These concerns have led to heightened monitoring and scrutiny of the party at both the state and federal levels.
