“All Democrats must be concerned that right-wing extremist networks reach into the Bundestag,” said Faeser. However, the government has no recourse in such cases because of the separation of powers; only parliament itself can take action.
The Interior Minister pointed out that only people “who act firmly on the basis of the Basic Law” are allowed to work in the government and authorities. She has just tightened disciplinary law so that extremists cannot sabotage the democratic state from within.
“The integration of the AfD into right-wing extremist networks must be further examined closely,” demanded Faeser. “Increasingly strong connections are becoming apparent.” Organizations like the Identitarian Movement are classified as definitely right-wing extremist.
The SPD’s first parliamentary director, Katja Mast, called the revelations “shocking.” “It doesn’t surprise me that the AfD employs real Nazis and right-wing extremists, but the extent is much larger than I feared,” Mast told the editorial network Germany (RND). “The AfD is specifically trying to undermine democracy.” There are “a bunch of right-wing Nazis” in the AfD, said Mast.
The Union sees Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) as having a duty. “If this press report turns out to be true, the President of the Bundestag must act immediately,” said parliamentary secretary Thorsten Frei (CDU) to the AFP news agency. “It would be absurd and absolutely unacceptable for the AfD to employ right-wing extremists.” From his point of view, it would also be “revealing if people were actually employed by the AfD who had previously been officially excluded by the AfD because of extremist activities.”
Green party leader Britta Haßelmann said there must be an end to the banalization and trivialization of the AfD. The Bundestag must deal with the findings from the research. “It’s time to look at this very closely,” said Haßelmann. “The interior of this Parliament” must be protected. Anyone who maintains connections to right-wing extremist networks must be checked – “including by all possible means here in the house.”
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr called for a public discussion about “which people there are being financed by the AfD with taxpayers’ money.” That should be questioned. It is important to “expose things.”
Bayerischer Rundfunk reported on Tuesday, citing its own research, that the AfD employs more than 100 people in the Bundestag who are active in right-wing extremist organizations. Among them are activists from the “Identitarian Movement” as well as neo-Nazis and a radical fraternity member.
The AfD rejected the allegations and spoke of a “bad campaign”. Parliamentary Secretary Bernd Baumann told journalists that there was “no truth” to the allegations. The constitutional protection authorities are under the control of the interior ministries and therefore cannot make objective classifications. Baumann also pointed out that the Bundestag checks all employees of members of parliament. “And anyone who works here has survived this test,” said Baumann.
