Right-wing protests in Regensburg labeled as a 'personal affair' by AfD
In a recent report, Vadim Derksen, a member of the AfD board in Regensburg, has been identified as an individual with ties to extreme right and neo-Nazi circles. Derksen, who is also an activist with the "Freies Netz Süd", was present at a demonstration organised by the Identitarian Movement (IB), a group classified as right-wing extremist by several state authorities.
The IB demonstration in Freilassing saw Derksen marching alongside known extremists, raising concerns about his associations and activities within far-right extremist networks. This event, however, has not been publicly addressed by the Regensburg AfD, who have not provided a statement on Derksen's participation in the IB march or their stance towards the Identitarian Movement.
The report also points to the Regensburg AfD's long-standing sympathies for Björn Höcke, an AfD board member who has advocated racist theses and initiated the movement "Der Flügel" to drive a more nationalist orientation within the party.
The AfD in Upper Palatinate and the AfD in Regensburg have been under scrutiny for their increasingly extreme right leanings. This is further evidenced by their invitation of Billy Six, a known anti-immigration advocate, to speak in the Prüfeninger Schlossgarten.
The Regensburg AfD's chairman, Christoph Schikora, has been a subject of controversy himself. In 2014, he was criticised for issues with press freedom when he took a camera from a photographer at an event. Schikora has also stated that they will no longer answer inquiries written in a denunciatory style.
This report adds to the growing concerns about the boundaries between the AfD and extremist elements. It raises questions about the party's commitment to maintaining a distance from such groups, particularly in light of the presence of individuals like Derksen within its ranks.
Meanwhile, the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been observing the IB since the beginning of the year, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance in monitoring such organisations. The IB has been classified as right-wing extremist by the constitutional protection of Berlin, Lower Saxony, and Bremen, and it has been reported that representatives of the IB marched side by side with convicted right-wing terrorists at a Pegida demonstration in Munich.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for parties to uphold the values of inclusivity, respect, and freedom, and to distance themselves from extremist elements that seek to undermine these principles. The report on Derksen serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in political affairs.
Politics surrounding the AfD in Regensburg has been under scrutiny due to their increasing leanings towards right-wing extremism. General-news reports point to Derksen's ties with extreme right and neo-Nazi circles, raising concerns about the party's commitment to distancing itself from such groups, particularly in light of Derksen's involvement in far-right demonstrations such as the one organized by the Identitarian Movement (IB), classified as right-wing extremist by several state authorities. Crime-and-justice issues also arise with the AfD's long-standing sympathies for individuals like Björn Höcke, who advocates racist theses, and their invitation of known anti-immigration advocates to speak at events. As the political landscape evolves, it remains crucial for parties to maintain values of inclusivity, respect, and freedom while upholding transparency and accountability in political affairs.
