State authorities in Germany prohibit AfD party members from taking up positions within the civil service.
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate has introduced new recruitment rules for civil servants, effectively barring members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party from joining the public sector. The move aims to ensure the loyalty of civil servants to the democratic constitutional order, as declared by the state's Interior Minister, Michael Ebling (SPD).
Under the new policy, applicants for government positions are required to declare that they do not belong to any extremist organisation, including the AfD, which is currently being monitored by the state's Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a far-right extremist group.
This rule change may also impact existing public sector employees, as membership in extremist organisations could lead to disciplinary actions, including potential dismissal if a breach of the duty to uphold the constitution is proven. The policy emphasises case-by-case examination of loyalty doubts, although the declaration requirement effectively serves as a practical bar for AfD members from civil servant roles in Rhineland-Palatinate.
It's worth noting that the AfD party has been designated as a confirmed extremist organisation in several German states. The party's recent appeal to the BfV (Germany's domestic intelligence agency) led to the suspension of their classification as a right-wing extremist group at the national level, but the designation remains in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The rule change has drawn criticism from AfD politician, Sebastian Muenzmaier, who described it as a "declaration of political bankruptcy". However, the state government maintains that the rules are necessary to safeguard the constitutional loyalty and democratic values expected of public servants in Germany.
Stricter requirements apply to police officers in Rhineland-Palatinate, reflecting the sensitive nature of their roles. The state's focus on maintaining constitutional loyalty among civil servants underscores its commitment to upholding democratic values and the rule of law.
The new policy for civil servants in Rhineland-Palatinate includes a requirement for applicants to declare they do not belong to extremist organizations, effectively barring members of the AfD party due to its designation as a far-right extremist group. This shift in policy-and-legislation is part of the general-news concerning politics, as the state aims to safeguard the constitutional loyalty and democratic values expected of public servants.
