Marc Henrichmann, the CDU security politician and chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee in the Bundestag, has defended the exclusion of the AfD and The Left party from the committee responsible for overseeing intelligence services. According to Henrichmann, these parties have no place in that body as they are considered “enemies of our democracy and rule of law.”
Neither the AfD nor the Left party is currently represented on the committee. Regarding the high parliamentary barriers to entry, Henrichmann pointed out that a majority in the Bundestag is required for election to the committee. He stressed that candidates must first convince others that they are “good-willed.” However, he added, “But if you believe that you must put national security or democracy at risk here, then you are simply outside. It’s that simple; it’s not up to us-it’s up to them.”
In addressing whether an AfD-led state government in Saxony-Anhalt should receive access to intelligence information, Henrichmann maintained that existing security vetting laws are sufficient. He stated that Germany is “not a law of the land without defense” and that the AfD should not imply that special regulations are required at this time. That said, he acknowledged that particularly sensitive information would not be shared if there was any doubt, specifically to prevent any possible leakage to Russia.
