With a debate on the violent crime on October 18 in Ludwigshafen, the AfD parliamentary group in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament met with opposition from all other five parliamentary groups. The AfD used the act of a Somali to stir up resentment against immigrants, said the FDP parliamentary group leader Philipp Fernis. “That deserves the resistance of all Democrats.”
Deputy AfD parliamentary group leader Jan Bollinger said immigrants were clearly overrepresented in knife attacks. “Particularly noticeable” are Somali, Afghan and Syrian citizens. “Many crimes would not have happened if immigration had been limited.”
Fernis replied that migrants are typically younger and male than the general population average – this has nothing to do with people’s origins. The Ludwigshafen SPD MP Heike Scharfenberger accused the AfD of “an undignified populist spectacle”. The suffering of the relatives of the two men who were killed was great enough and should not be used as a political instrument.
Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) said in his first speech in the state parliament that he would like to thank the police for their commitment. And he was happy about the way in which the people of Ludwigshafen took part and expressed their sympathy.
