German far-right danger must be taken seriously, says intelligence chief
- A huge wave of protests against the AfD party in recent weeks appear to have done little to dilute support for the anti-immigration party in its stronghold
- The party sparked a backlash last month after a media investigation revealed that some members discussed the idea of mass deportations at meeting with extremists
The President of the Thuringian state branch of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, Stefan Kramer, has warned against underestimating the danger of right-wing extremist slogans and antisemitism statements by politicians from German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“We should finally put aside our false shyness to take seriously what exposed extremists and dictators write or say,” he told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.
“History has proven many times that they mean what they say and write and that they act accordingly when they get the opportunity.”
However, banning proceedings should only be the “last resort,” he said.
“A ban is the last possible resort, democrats must have explored all other avenues first,” said Kramer. “That is the path we are currently on as citizens,” he said, referring to the current large demonstrations against right-wing extremism in Germany.
Germany has seen a huge wave of protests against the AfD in recent weeks, but they appear to have done little to dilute support for the anti-immigration party in its stronghold.
With its cobbled streets, red sloping roofs and timber-fronted houses, the rural town of Raguhn-Jessnitz in the former East German state of Saxony-Anhalt last year became the first in Germany to elect an AfD mayor.