Kramer calls for self-criticism in politics

With a view to the upcoming state elections in the fall, Thuringia's head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer, has called for more political self-criticism. "Until election day is a time for taking stock, reading mistakes, self-criticism, but also for courageous, daily debate about and promotion of political content," Kramer told the "Rheinische Post" (Friday). It is important to convince voters and not to patronize them.

The former Secretary General of the Central Council of Jews in Germany referred to the current and past protests and concerns of the population in recent years. "The issues of climate, immigration, education, health and security are causing considerable uncertainty, fear and anger," said Kramer. The upcoming state elections, like every free election, are something that democrats should celebrate - especially in view of the threat to the basic order posed by the possible electoral success of right-wing extremists.

He also made it clear that the Thuringian AfD state association, which has been classified as proven right-wing extremist, has become even more radicalized. "Since our classification in March 2021, there has been no political moderation on the part of the party's representatives in Thuringia. On the contrary, Mr Höcke - as he has done for years - is acting with the gesture of a man in resistance to what the AfD openly disparages as the "old party cartel" and the "system press", for example." This is "the sound of the democracy despisers of the Weimar Republic, which he seems to take as a model".