Sharp criticism: AfD members endanger loyalty to the constitution in the civil service!

Sharp criticism: AfD members endanger loyalty to the constitution in the civil service!

The call for greater loyalty to the constitution in the civil service is becoming louder. Michael Ebling, the Interior Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasized in a recent interview that membership in the AfD can give rise to skepticism. Applicants for public service must definitely dispel suspicions about their loyalty to the constitution, said Ebling on Deutschlandfunk. This is particularly important because the state must be able to rely on the loyalty of its employees. Ebling refers to the reports from the constitutional protection authorities that cannot be ignored, which currently identify a high risk from right-wing extremist tendencies and the increasingly radicalizing AfD. For the first time in May, the party was classified as clearly right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, but there is a legal dispute against this classification.

The concerns about constitutional fidelity do not arise out of thin air. According to current figures, there is a growing right-wing extremist potential in Germany, which is estimated to be over 50,000 people by the end of 2024. Of these, around 15,300 are prone to violence. In addition, the number of right-wing extremist criminal and violent crimes rose to 37,835 in 2024, an impressive 47.4% compared to the previous year. For Ebling, these developments are alarming and he sees the need to take decisive action against them. This also includes checking applications for civil service to ensure that no people with extremist views are registered there.

Right-wing extremism in society

But what is behind this development? The numbers speak for themselves. The increase in acts of violence against asylum accommodation and the instrumentalization of social issues such as the Middle East conflict to spread anti-migrant and anti-Semitic positions are just some of the worrying aspects. In addition, right-wing extremist groups that have only recently announced self-dissolution are showing that they are quickly reorganizing and forming new structures in order to continue their activities. It is important to also monitor the spectrum of right-wing extremist parties, including the AfD, as well as their affiliated organizations such as the Young Alternative for Germany. These organizations see themselves as engaged in a culture war and are actively recruiting members.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution also reports increased anti-queer activities and attacks on the LGBTIQ community, which particularly increased in 2024. Disruptive actions against CSD events have also been recorded. This development is part of a larger problem: Radicalization is increasingly taking place on the Internet, where people like the perpetrator in Hanau, who shot at least nine people for racist motives, networked. Such acts leave their mark and lead to a climate of fear in society. The debate about increasing radicalization is in full swing and experts warn that society must remain vigilant.

Political reactions and social responsibility

German politicians have already decided on measures to combat right-wing extremism, but implementation remains a challenge. The number of unreported cases of right-wing extremist crimes could be significantly higher than officially recorded. While the Federal Criminal Police Office registered 109 right-wing extremist homicides, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation estimates this number to be at least 213. The statistics impressively show that more than 90% of right-wing extremist crimes are committed by men, even if there are women in militant neo-Nazi groups.

The increasing number of members of the AfD - currently over 50,000 - as well as the high activity of other groups show the need to deal intensively with right-wing extremist trends. It is important to raise society's awareness of this issue and take measures to counteract it. The Interior Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate makes it clear that a joint effort is required to protect the constitutional order and ensure that democratic values ​​have true space in Germany.