Amid strong polling numbers for the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt, several state Interior Ministers are calling for preparations in the event that the party assumes government power.
Georg Maier, the Interior Minister for Thuringia (SPD), urged that the issue be added to the agenda at the Interior Ministers Conference in Hamburg in mid-June. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, Maier stated that it is “urgently necessary to discuss what risks a potential AfD government takeover of Saxony-Anhalt poses to Germany’s security architecture and how we can counteract these threats”.
Maier further contended that “the AfD represents a danger to the external and internal security of the Federal Republic because of its numerous contacts with authoritarian states and its connections to far-right precursor organizations”. He warned that securing sensitive information from security authorities from leaking to Russia or far-right circles must be prevented.
Jan Redmann, the Interior Minister for Brandenburg (CDU), also highlighted significant risks. According to the “Handelsblatt”, “if a party that is partially far-right gains access to security-relevant information, it endangers the security of us all. This is not a theoretical risk; it is a concrete danger”. Redmann emphasized that Germany’s “security model” relies on trust-a value shared by partners at the federal, state, and international levels. He stressed, “Whoever questions these values destroys trust”.
Roman Poseck, the Interior Minister for Hesse (CDU), also advocated for preparing for the “worst-case scenario”. He assured the “Handelsblatt” that should the worst occur, “together with the overwhelming majority of states governed by the democratic mainstream and the security authorities, which are committed to the free democratic basic law, we would provide the necessary answers to protect democracy and security”. Poseck added that the standard procedures at the Interior Ministers Conference would also need adjustment. Nevertheless, he remained optimistic, stating he was “convinced that the majority of voters in Saxony-Anhalt do not want a far-right government and are aware of the devastating consequences for community life, the economy, and security”.
