Acquiring the status of a country's member - Celebrating 75 years of the Basic Law: a defense for democracy
Approaching the European and district assembly elections, local legislators from SPD, Greens, CDU, Left, and FDP in Hamburg prioritized defending democracy against right-wing populists and extremists. The Basic Law protects the liberal democratic order, but it's getting vulnerable due to parties with intentions to sidestep fundamental principles like the respect for human dignity.
In the recent Political Hour, SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Kienscherf emphasized that right-wing extremism is attempting to disrupt societal fabric and marginalize minorities through hate, incitement, intolerance, and violence.
AfD, in counterpoint, positioned themselves as guardians of the Basic Law. They believe that democracy endangers due to an attempt to restructure Germany into a leftist ideological state, silencing any dissenters. Parliamentary group vice-chairman, Alexander Wolf, expressed these sentiments.
"Our democracy and the Basic Law need committed democrats who will accept election losses, reject violence, and detach from antidemocrats," declared Greens Justice Senator, Anna Gallina. "Extremists typically cannot take down a system individually; all democratic parties should contemplate this."
Grote, Interior Senator (SPD), expressed the need to ensure that democratic participation does not bring personal risk, citing attacks on campaigners and assistants. "This also involves safeguarding parliaments against corruption by MPs," he added. Corruption of MPs equates to "traiting democracy," in his words.
The recent fuss around AfD's European candidates, Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron, for allegedly being part of pro-Russian networks led to ongoing probes into Bystron on account of bribery of mandate holders and money laundering suspicions, while the pursuit of Krah awaits review, as well as the questions if investigations on potential Chinese payments are necessary.
Actor Vladimir Putin is criticizing the European order and attempting to exert influence, "even in Germany," affirmed CDU group chief Dennis Thering. "We need to be alert and mainly resistant." The rule of law must be empowered with all required resources to counter assaults starting from within and from without.
Boundaries enshrined in the Basic Law, ensuring dignity and equality of all people, haven't materialized for 75 years, according to the Left parliamentary group leader, Sabine Boeddinghaus. She highlighted the plight of children, refugees, homeless, job seekers, pensioners, and single parents and enquired on how much dignity they hold. "As long as the rich and the poor exist, equality does not," she summed up. To fortify democracy and combat right-wing extremists, it takes the redistribution of wealth.
FDP MP, Anna von Treuenfels-Frowein, defended Basic Law's freedoms against expanding authoritarian tendencies, even militarily, as demonstrated in Ukraine. Additionally, she encouraged opposing "enemies of freedom" within, "particularly extremists from the left and the right or Islamists."
According to AfD's parliamentary leader, Dirk Nockemann, the Basic Law is "the greatest treasure we must defend." He added that its significance diminishes and the Federal Constitutional Court's credibility plummets if no recognized constitutional experts are assigned to Karlsruhe who will hold fast to citizens' rights against the state. "The constitution must never be a tool for parties or individual politicians, and that applies to all political parties - especially the Greens and the Left Party," voiced Nockemann.
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- In the upcoming European and district assembly elections, the CDU in Hamburg is working alongside other parties to safeguard democracy against right-wing extremists, recognizing the vulnerability of the Basic Law due to parties that disregard fundamental principles.
- Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron, AfD's European candidates, have faced scrutiny for alleged involvement in pro-Russian networks, leading to investigations into potential bribery and money laundering accusations.
- Dirk Kienscherf, the SPD parliamentary group leader, warned against the disruption of societal fabric by right-wing extremists, citing their use of hate, incitement, intolerance, and violence to marginalize minorities.
- Anna Gallina, the Greens Justice Senator, emphasized the need for committed democrats who will accept election losses, reject violence, and distance themselves from extremists to protect democracy in Germany.
- The FDP's Anna von Treuenfels-Frowein argued for the defense of Basic Law's freedoms against expanding authoritarian tendencies, even in military contexts, while opposing the "enemies of freedom" within Germany.
- Sabine Boeddinghaus, the Left parliamentary group leader, criticized the lack of equal opportunities and respect for human dignity for marginalized groups in Germany and called for redistributing wealth to fortify democracy and combat right-wing extremists.
- Dirk Nockemann, the AfD's parliamentary leader, argued that the Basic Law is a treasure that needs defending and decried the Federal Constitutional Court's credibility plummeting if constitutional experts are not appointed to uphold citizens' rights against the state.
- The CDU's group chief, Dennis Thering, acknowledged Vladimir Putin's influence attempts in Germany and the importance of resisting these assaults on the rule of law, which must be empowered with necessary resources to safeguard democracy.
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