- AfD in the parliamentary committees?
In the appointment of state parliament committees with AfD representatives, Thuringia's BSW chairwoman Katja Wolf has advocated for case-by-case decisions. While there are parliamentary conventions, she said to the German Press Agency in Erfurt, "one must not lose sight of the fact that the AfD aims to undermine democracy," and this should be factored into every consideration.
Impact on Democracy
The Thuringian AfD has been at the top of polls for months. If it becomes the strongest force in the state election on September 1, it would, for example, have the right to propose the post of state parliament president. Wolf emphasized that one should not anticipate the election results. "The goal, of course, is that the AfD does not become the strongest force," she said. From her perspective, the legal situation is clear: while there is a right of proposal for the strongest fraction, there is also the right of the state parliament not to elect this proposal. Every election in the state parliament is an "individual assessment with the question of how far it serves the undermining of democracy, and to what extent there are dangers that could ultimately lead to dramatic democratic consequences," she said.
In the current legislative period, which has only a few weeks left, AfD candidates have repeatedly failed in elections for state parliament committees. There has also been no AfD representative in the state parliament presidency recently.
Different Approach to the AfD
Wolf had recently called for a new approach to the AfD in an interview with "Welt" and criticized that the firewall had made the AfD stronger. If there are clear reasons to reject an application, it should be rejected. "Or one must stand above it and say: Is reasonable, we agree. It needs more pragmatism and less ideology," she said to "Welt".
Thuringia's CDU top candidate Mario Voigt did not respond to a request. CDU State Secretary Christian Herrgott explained that the BSW showed that it did not know where it was going. "While Wagenknecht from the Saarland tries to make the announcements also for Thuringia, the BSW here wavers from the extension of Red-Red-Green to the cuddly course with Höcke's AfD."
The BSW is currently close on the heels of the CDU in the race for second place, according to recent polls. Wolf could claim the minister presidency if she finishes ahead of Voigt. Whether the CDU would then enter a coalition with the BSW is uncertain.
Wolf said she was sure that a solution would be found even then. "I perceive a great sense of urgency with a minority government in all parties, including the CDU," she said. "I actually perceive that all democratic parties are aware of the drama in Thuringia and that all democratic parties know that they have a special responsibility."
Despite the AfD's strong presence in Thuringia's polls, Wolf emphasized the importance of considering their aim to undermine democracy in every parliamentary decision. In a recent interview with "Welt," Wolf proposed a new approach to the AfD, suggesting that clear rejections should be made if warranted, or a more pragmatic stance should be taken.
