In the ongoing trial at Frankfurt's Higher Regional Court, former AfD parliamentarian Birgit Malsack-Winkemann dismissed allegations that she played a significant role in the Prins Reuß organization's alleged plot to overthrow the government. Initially accused by the prosecution of being a key figure in the scheme, Malsack-Winkemann asserted that her interactions with the group were mere brainstorming sessions. She pointed the finger at an organization called "Allianz," claiming they were the ones responsible for the plot.
During the announced trial, Malsack-Winkemann, once a Berlin judge and AfD member of the German Parliament, refuted suggestions that she had helped draft a new constitution with the group. She clarified that the seized documents, found during police raids, were merely brainstorming notes and lacked any concrete plans for a new form of government.
Conversely, the federal prosecutor accused Malsack-Winkemann of infiltrating other defendants into the parliament and scouting the building together. She was implicated as a member of the "Council of the Union," an alleged group planning to invade the parliament with armed force and detain critical government officials.
However, Malsack-Winkemann adamantly denied having any intention to storm the parliament or playing any part in the operation. She insisted that it was "Allianz" who was intended to implement the group's ideology, which included beliefs in a global military alliance named "Allianz" that would bring about a system change.
During her testimony, Malsack-Winkemann frequently mentioned her disagreements with Rüdiger von Pescatore, who was supposed to head the group's military wing. "Fire and water don't mix," she emphasized, highlighting that she and von Pescatore would never collaborate on such a plan. According to Malsack-Winkemann, von Pescatore sought to exclude her from the group, but they eventually parted ways from the military arm.
Currently, nine defendants are on trial in Frankfurt, facing charges of being members of a terrorist organization or supporting it. Parallel trials for an additional 26 alleged conspirators are ongoing in Munich and Stuttgart. As all defendants are presumed innocent, the trial is set to continue on September 3.
The federal prosecutor suspects that "Allianz" was actively involved in the process of infiltrating defendants into parliament. Malsack-Winkemann, in contrast, believes that it was "Allianz," not herself or the Commission, that was supposed to take responsibility for implementing the group's ideology.
Further Reading:
Enrichment: Proceedings in the trail coincide with ongoing investigations and arrests related to Reichsbürger movement plots to dethrone the German government. German authorities have targeted 25 suspects, including Malsack-Winkemann, for allegedly collaborating to attack the Bundestag and replace the state. Leaders from the AfD have distanced themselves from these actions, insisting on an investigation, while Malsack-Winkemann herself has yet to publicly comment on the collaboration with Prins Reuß. Arrests and investigations by Germany's police force demonstrate the ongoing focus on the Reichsbürger movement and their extremist ideologies.
