Turmoil in the district council: Will AfD leader Nikolaus Kramer be voted out?

Turmoil in the district council: Will AfD leader Nikolaus Kramer be voted out?

It's a busy day in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district council today. The discussion about the dismissal of Nikolaus Kramer, the vice president of the AfD, is causing tension. The initiators of the motion, The Left and the GutE Party, are based on a controversial social media post by Kramer that was published on October 29, 2025. In this post he shows himself with District Administrator Michael Sack and the integration officer Ibrahim Al Najjar on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of a danger prevention center, but describes Al Najjar as the AfD's “remigration officer”.

The term “remigration” not only causes a stir, but is also criticized by many as ethnic-nationalist and inhumane. While Kramer sees no problem with either the choice of words or the use of the term and explains that it is not about the repatriation of German citizens, the term “remigration” remains controversial. Critics point out that the idea of ​​expelling migrants or people with a migration history violates human dignity. Interestingly, the post in question has since disappeared from Kramer's Facebook page.

A controversial catchphrase

“Remigration” had already been named the “bad word of the year” in 2023. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution defines this term as a central component of the New Right, which is increasingly penetrating the public debate. Prominent members of the AfD, such as party spokeswoman Alice Weidel, are even calling for large-scale repatriations of people without German citizenship, which is further fueling the tensions. This is not only a point that polarizes the public, but also has a profound impact on people with a migrant background.

Current surveys show that many Germans with a migrant background, especially weaker groups, are affected by racism and discrimination and fear about their future. Many people feel forced to emigrate because their security is threatened. The issue is now not just limited to the AfD; Other parties also use discriminatory arguments, which fuels the normalization of this problem. Critics such as activist Obermuller are calling for a social alliance and warning about the consequences of these political debates.

A look at the political landscape

The migration policy discussion has taken a sad turn in recent years. It all started with statements by the then Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), who declared migration to be the “mother of all problems”. This attitude has developed into a consensus across all party lines. Migration is often associated with excessive demands and social burden. This perspective means that asylum seekers are often perceived as a burden and negative phenomena, which in turn contributes to stigmatization.

However, law professor Daniel Thym denounces that this view does not do justice to human rights. His reflections remind us that human values ​​should not be applied selectively. The public discourse must become more comprehensive and humane, because a society that takes democracy and human rights seriously should not be guided by authoritarian trends. There is a danger that a social division will arise in which distinctions will be drawn between “worthy” and “unworthy” citizens.

In this complex situation, it remains to be seen how the political climate surrounding the dismissal of Nikolaus Kramer will develop. While Kramer dismisses the allegations as “silly and undemocratic” and is convinced that he will be confirmed in office, the social disputes show that the discussion about migration and integration in Germany is far from over.