Legislation Assembly Reconstructed Verbatim: - Committee recommends hiring additional personnel at the Constitution Protection Agency
The Thuringian Constitutional Protection is under immense pressure, a Landtag committee has reported. The worsening situation is largely due to increased right-wing extremism, Islamist activities, and spying attempts, as per CDU deputy Raymond Walk, who addressed the Landtag during the Parliamentary Control Commission's report presentation. The committee overseeing the Constitutional Protection has been understaffed for years, yet still has a heavy load to bear.
"Cause for Concern"
In some areas, Thuringia's Constitutional Protection is operating at full capacity, while the workload is overwhelming in others - "Cause for Concern," Walk stressed. The agency needs improved personnel and resources to perform its duties effectively. Walk confirmed the call for more manpower. Currently, the Thuringian Constitutional Protection has over 100 employees.
Right-wing extremism in Thuringia is the primary focus of the Constitutional Protection. Walk highlighted that the Thuringian AfD, with its leader Bjoern Hoecke, has been labeled as a proven right-wing extremist since 2021 and is under surveillance. The party's youth organization, the Young Alternative, has also been classified as such this year.
Reichsbuerger Movement poses a threat - Around 1000 individuals belong to the Reichsbuerger movement in Thuringia, with a growing trend. The Islamic scene consists of about 210 people - various mosques in the state serve as their contact point. However, Islamists generally act independently.
AfD deputy Stefan Moeller criticized the commission for not meeting its legal responsibilities. He claimed that the Parliamentary Control Commission was operating at a reduced capacity, with only three rather than the required five members. The committee's full membership has repeatedly been blocked, first by AfD candidates and then by candidates from other parties.
The Landtag also addressed the published findings of a committee on politically motivated violent crime. Deputies noted a trend toward more attacks on democracy, expressing concern over the increase in crimes, threats, coercion, and intimidation against civil servants and political office holders and candidates, according to the final report.
In separate votes, the factions held different opinions: For instance, the Left faction suggested establishing another investigative committee on right-wing terrorism in Thuringia. The committee had been set up at the CDU's initiative.
Link to the Agenda
Read also:
- In response to the concerns raised by CDU deputy Raymond Walk, an investigation committee has been formed to investigate the increasing criminality associated with the AfD and Islamist activities in Thuringia's Parliament.
- The Board of the Constitution Protection Agency in Thuringia is under pressure to address the growing right-wing extremism and Islamist activities in the region, as highlighted by Raymond Walk during a Landtag meeting.
- The AfD party in Thuringia, led by Bjoern Hoecke, who has been labeled as a proven right-wing extremist, is under constant surveillance by the Constitutional Protection Agency, as per the recommendation made by Raymond Walk to the Parliamentary Control Commission.
- The Thuringian Parliament's Protection of the Constitution committee is planning to hire additional personnel at the Constitution Protection Agency, following the recommendation made by Raymond Walk during a Landtag meeting to address the growing workload and criminal activities linked to right-wing extremism and Islamist activities.
- The AfD deputy Stefan Moeller criticized the Parliamentary Control Commission for not meeting its legal responsibilities, citing a reduced capacity of the committee, which has been a recurring issue due to blocked appointments by the AfD and other parties.
