The Commission recommends modifying the initial proposal to incorporate these changes:
In a dramatic turn of events, the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate has revised its policy regarding the employment of members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the civil service.
Initially, the state implemented a strict policy banning AfD members from entering roles such as policemen and teachers. This policy required candidates to declare they were not members of any extremist organization in the last five years, explicitly listing the AfD as such an extremist group. The decision was led by State Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD), who emphasized that loyalty to the constitution was mandatory for civil servants and that extremism was incompatible with public service.
However, this policy faced significant political and legal backlash. After condemnation from constitutional experts and opposition politicians, including CDU leader Gordon Schnieder, the Rhineland-Palatinate government quietly reversed the policy. AfD members who affirm their loyalty to the constitution cannot be excluded from public service roles after all.
The Ministry of Interior in Mainz has since clarified that the decision regarding access to the public service is case-by-case. Doubts about the constitutional loyalty of AfD applicants can be clarified on a case-by-case basis. The statement from last Thursday reaffirms the Ministry's stance on hiring practices for the public service.
It is important to note that the state of Rhineland-Palatinate will not deny AfD members access to the public service en masse. Existing employees' membership in listed organizations (like AfD) can constitute a disciplinary offense. The Ministry did not introduce a blanket ban on access to the public service for AfD members, as previously understood.
This revision marks a shift from an outright ban of AfD members in public service to a more nuanced approach requiring constitutional loyalty, without excluding AfD members outright. The Ministry's statement addresses the criticism from experts and the opposition regarding the previous statement's perceived blanket ban.
Last week, the Ministry of the Interior stated that the path to the public service would be closed to AfD members in the future. However, the recent statement from the Ministry of Interior in Mainz emphasizes that the individual case remains decisive. The Ministry refers to its statement from last Thursday for confirmation.
This change in policy comes amid declining SPD support before upcoming elections, suggesting a tactical retreat in the face of criticism. Nonetheless, the commitment to constitutional loyalty remains a key requirement for public service employees in Rhineland-Palatinate.
[1] [State of Rhineland-Palatinate bans AfD members from civil service](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/deutschland-afd-rheinland-pfalz-101.html) [2] [Rhineland-Palatinate: AfD members banned from civil service](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-mitglieder-durfen-in-rheinland-pfalz-keine-beamte-werden-a-1275016.html) [3] [Rhineland-Palatinate retracts ban on AfD members in civil service](https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article206950696/Rheinland-Pfalz-retraktiert-AfD-Beamtenverbot.html) [4] [Interior Minister Ebling: Loyalty to the constitution is mandatory for civil servants](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/rheinland-pfalz-afd-mitglieder-durfen-keine-beamten-werden-1.5124035)
- The controversial policy, which initially barred members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party from joining the civil service in Rhineland-Palatinate, has been scrutinized and revised, allowing those who affirm loyalty to the constitution to participate in public service roles.
- Amid growing criticism and legal challenges, the policy-and-legislation concerning AfD members in the civil service has become a topic of general-news, with the Ministry of Interior in Mainz adopting a more nuanced approach, evaluating each case individually, rather than imposing a blanket ban.
