The AfD does not want to accept the assessment by the President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, that “right-wing extremist conspiracy theories” were expressed at their European election meeting. In a statement, party executive board member Peter Boehringer was quoted as saying, “We cannot accept the current, again encroaching, false statements that Haldenwang has not substantiated in any way during the current preparation meeting for the European elections.”
According to the announcement, the AfD sent Haldenwang a warning, combined with the demand for omission and public correction. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution confirmed receipt of the letter.
The President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution said on Sunday evening that representatives of the former more moderate camp had played almost no role in the elections for the European elections in Magdeburg at the weekend. “Rather, various candidates for election expressed right-wing extremist conspiracy theories, such as those of the so-called ‘Great Exchange’,” said Haldenwang. AfD candidates for the 2024 European elections had spoken out in favor of “millions of people remigrating” and warned of “globalists” who threatened Germany.
Haldenwang: “Parts of the AfD are very strongly influenced by Moscow”
The AfD had already lodged a complaint against Haldenwang with its lawyer at the Federal Ministry of the Interior at the beginning of July. She also sent a warning to Haldenwang and another letter of formal notice to a lawyer from the Federal Office. It was about statements by Haldenwang in connection with the publication of the 2022 report for the protection of the constitution in June. At the time, the head of the authorities had said, among other things, that parts of the AfD “spread hatred and hate speech against all forms of minorities”. He also said: “We see that anti-Semitic attitudes are also represented and spread in parts of the AfD, and we see that parts of the AfD are also very strongly influenced by Moscow and are currently spreading Russian narratives here in Germany.” These are all “circumstances that German voters should also keep in mind when making their decision.”
According to a party spokesman, Haldenwang later announced that he would not sign the cease-and-desist declaration requested by the AfD at the beginning of July. “We are therefore taking legal action,” said the spokesman.
