Unleashing Unfettered Speech: AfD Pushes for Legislative Immunity for Politicians
Statements from Members of Parliament within the AfD party will no longer face penalties - Politicians from AfD propose immunity from legal prosecution for themselves
Hey there! Let's talk about the recent wild goings-on in Lower Saxony's Landtag. The far-right AfD party is pushing for a radical change—they want MPs' statements, made outside the state parliament, to be exempt from prosecution.
Starting this week, the AfD faction plans to present a draft for a Constitutional amendment, arguing that this move is all about the sacred principles of democracy and free speech. Stephan Bothe, the AfD's interior policy spokesman, put it this way: "This is about fundamental questions of democracy and freedom of speech."
Bothe clarifies that they're aiming to expand the protection of MPs from prosecution to their press work, social media appearances, websites, parliamentary initiatives, rallies, party conferences, and statements in their constituencies. At present, only statements within the Landtag, committees, or factions are protected by Article 14 of the state constitution. Defamatory insults are a no-go, regardless.
But the opposition, namely the SPD, isn't having any of it. Wiard Siebels, the SPD's parliamentary manager, calls the AfD's plans "a free pass for hate and incitement by their functionaries." Six-pack Siebels isn't mincing words: "We don't need special rights for politicians, so the democratic factions won't go along with such a farce."
Speaking of farces, there are currently two proceedings against AfD MP Vanessa Behrendt for suspected incitement of the people. In one case, she allegedly called the rainbow flag a symbol of "pedophile lobby groups' machinations" on the platform X. In another, she reportedly labeled a group of pedophiles as criminal, even though the folks in question swore they weren't acting on their impulses. After the complaint, Behrendt was also accused of recklessly disclosing personal data by publishing the man who filed the complaint's address.
The AfD claims that the central office against hate crime on the internet is biased and acts politically motivated in its proceedings against MPs. However, the AfD's interior policy spokesman, Bothe, hasn't directly linked the constitutional amendment proposal to the investigations against Behrendt.
Against the backdrop of these interesting developments, it's essential to remember that facts are our friends. It's unclear at this time if the proposed Constitutional amendment is directly related to the investigations against Behrendt, as reports and sources available don't mention this connection[1][2][4]. So, stay tuned for updates on this drama-filled saga!
In light of the AfD's proposed Constitutional amendment for immunity from prosecution for MPs' statements outside the state parliament, discussions have emerged about the significance of this policy-and-legislation in EC countries' general-news arena, particularly in terms of vocational training policies, politics, and democratic principles. The question remains whether this proposed amendment could potentially impact the ongoing investigations against an AfD MP for suspected incitement of the people.
