Potential state governments led by the AfD are raising massive security concerns within Germany’s domestic and constitutional protection agencies. Georg Maier, the Interior Minister for Thuringia (SPD), views the “foreseeable takeover by the AfD” as a “real danger to national security.” Maier specifically warned that if an AfD minister were in charge, they would gain access to highly confidential information, such as details related to counter-espionage and right-wing extremism. He also cautioned that sources within the constitutional protection services face the threat of exposure.
Furthermore, Hamburg’s Senate for the Interior, Andy Grote (SPD), who currently chairs the Interior Ministers Conference (IMK), is calling for corrections to the existing security structure. “As interior ministers, it is our responsibility to protect the common security structures in Germany against extremist influence of any kind,” Grote told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “We must fulfill this responsibility through the IMK now.”
Specific reforms might be necessary for the eventuality of an AfD government. Currently, the IMK operates under a principle of consensus, meaning decisions require the unanimous approval of all 16 federal states and the federal government. This principle could potentially be discarded to prevent political deadlock.
Meanwhile, the SPD is increasing pressure on the Union to find a solution quickly. Thuringia’s Interior Minister Maier criticized the Union, calling its refusal to prepare for this possibility in time “irresponsible.” He noted that SPD interior ministers’ proposals-which outlined plans for a resilient security architecture-had been “completely blocked.” Addressing the Union, Maier appealed for them to follow the necessary steps immediately.
Constitutional protection officials are also urging changes. Stephan Kramer, head of the constitutional protection service in Thuringia, called for restrictions on access to vital intelligence. He advocates for a strict “need-to-know” principle. Under this principle, the constitutional protection service in Saxony-Anhalt could only access information within the Länder information network that was absolutely necessary, such as warnings about impending terrorist attacks. Kramer also suggested that individual constitutional protection sources could be directed through other agencies in time. “This would ultimately not be a political sanction, but classic risk management to protect human lives, intelligence access, and classic secrecy,” he stated.
