AfD demands a license for hate: Saxony-Anhalt on alert!

AfD demands a license for hate: Saxony-Anhalt on alert!

Bremen, Deutschland - In Lower Saxony, a new AfD move is causing excitement. The right -wing populist party plans to contribute a constitutional amendment to make statements by members of the state parliament evenly outside of the state parliament. AfD interior politician Stephan Bothe emphasizes that it is necessary to expand the protection of MPs in their communications with citizens. According to Article 14 of the State Constitution, only statements in the state parliament, committees or political groups are protected. A first draft for the change plans will be presented this week, as reports n-tv.de.

The planned reform, however, encounters violent criticism. Politicians from the SPD already described the AfD advance as a "lubrication theater". SPD MP Wiard Siebels expressed that the AfD is primarily concerned with enabling its officials a license for hatred and agitation. A current example of such behavior is the MP Vanessa Behrendt, who is suspected of committing sedition. It is accused of defaming the rainbow flag as a symbol of "machinations of pedophile lobby groups" and to generalize a group of pedophiles as criminal. It is also examined whether she has published a man's personal data after this complaint.

political consequences and freedom of expression

The AfD not only sees itself under pressure, but also externally. Bothe did not directly comment on the ongoing investigation against Behrendt, but targeted the central position against hate crime. The MP defends her controversial statements about the rainbow flag and describes them as "completely permissible expression". It assumes a politically motivated approach to the central office. This discussion shows the current tensions about freedom of expression in Germany, which is anchored in Article 5 of the Basic Law, but can be restricted by criminal norms on how the sedition can be restricted, as the [Federal Center for Political Education] (https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschratzen/Apuz/306444/meinungsfreiheit-und-Ihre- und-).

The AfD's advance comes in the middle of a nationwide debate about the limits of freedom of expression. While freedom of expression in Germany is very important, there are legal limits that affect statements in particular that violate the constitution or the mutual respect. In the current political landscape, statements that are classified as sedition are particularly critical. According to the Federal Center for Political Education, the consideration between freedom of expression and the protection of the personality remains of central importance.

legislation and consequences for the AfD

parallel to the advance in Lower Saxony is discussed on the topic of the political responsibility of the MPs. There are efforts to introduce a temporary policy ban on repeatedly convicted persons. This law, which is sought as a compromise between the SPD and the Union, could mean that MPs who have been convicted several times are excluded from the candidacy for a period of five years. However, critics fear that this is a targeted measure against the AfD, although the draft law should officially be used.

How many MPs would actually be affected by such a policy ban remains unclear. Agencies report a "not small number" of MPs who were convicted of sedition. So far, only a few AfD politicians have been convicted, but there is great skepticism compared to an actual implementation of the suggestions. The discussion shows that the political landscape in Germany is increasingly polarizing and the limits of freedom of expression and political commitment are put to the test.