Constitution protector: AfD has shed its shyness

The AfD has taken a further step towards radicalization at its party conference in Riesa at the weekend, according to Thuringia's President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer. "The party has now shown at the national party conference that it is no longer afraid to hide behind any words," Kramer told Deutschlandfunk radio. "Instead, it is clearly showing its völkisch nationalism and also its hostility to the constitution, which we have worked out in the constitutional protection offices."

As an example, Kramer cited the campaign slogan "Alice for Germany" for AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel. This plays on the slogan "Everything for Germany" of the Sturmabteilung (SA) of the NSDAP. "In this respect, it is once again clear where the party actually wants to go. It is shown openly," said Kramer. He also compared the AfD's rhetoric with that of future US President Donald Trump.

Kramer: New AfD youth organization not a sign of moderation

Kramer does not see the party's split from the Junge Alternative (JA) and the founding of a new AfD youth organization as a sign of moderation within the party. "On the contrary, all these forces will be absorbed into the party," he emphasized. The constitution protector argued that the party is basically just trying to protect the youth organization from being banned.

Criticism of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

At the same time, Kramer regretted that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution was no longer presenting a report with an up-to-date assessment of the party before the federal election. The Federal Office's duty of neutrality and moderation in the election campaign would be placed in the foreground. "I think this is wrong and fatal and a misinterpretation of the current legal situation."

When asked about a possible ban procedure against the AfD, Kramer replied that a defensive democracy must also show that it is serious about its own rules. "And if a party is classified as anti-constitutional, then further steps are possible if the political debate obviously does not lead to the enemies being pushed back again."

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is currently monitoring the AfD as a suspected case of right-wing extremism.