Senator from within the government - Extreme right ideologies continue to pose the keenest danger.
The greatest threat to democracy remains right-wing extremism, warned Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) during the presentation of the Hamburg Constitution Protection Report for 2023. He linked this assessment mainly to the AfD, stating that their radicalization has persisted at both the federal and state levels.
Grote considered the AfD a suspect case for anti-constitutional activities across Germany. He also noted that while the Hamburg state arm of the AfD is not under observation by the Constitution Protection, prominent figures such as Thuringian faction leader Björn Höcke might face inquiries by government agencies.
The Hamburg Interior Ministry pegged the number of potential right-wing extremists in the city at 390. The year before, they counted 380 allegedly extremist individuals in Hamburg, as stated by its head, Torsten Voss.
Compared to the previous year, the Constitutional Protection reduced its count of left-wing extremists by 70, down to 1060. Meanwhile, Islamists continue to dominate as the largest extremist group, with a significant increase in numbers now reaching 1840. In 2022, this faction consisted of 1755 individuals, while in 2014, the number stood at 955.
Grote noted that calls for a caliphate at Islamist demonstrations in Hamburg defy the principles of the German Constitution. However, he feels that these calls are not yet gaining foothold anywhere structurally.
Despite this, Islamism stands out for its extreme brutality, intense fanaticism, and occasional readiness for violence.
Grote began the press conference by expressing shock at the murder of a police officer in Mannheim earlier in the year and requested a moment of silence in commemoration of the fallen officer.
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Andy Grote, the Interior Senator from Hamburg's SPD government, highlighted that democracy is currently facing its greatest threat from right-wing extremism. Grote specifically warned about the radicalization of the AfD, which he considers a suspect case for anti-constitutional activities across Germany. Despite the Hamburg state arm of the AfD not being under observation by the Constitution Protection, prominent figures like Björn Höcke might face inquiries by government agencies.
The Hamburg Interior Ministry reported 390 potential right-wing extremists in the city, a slight increase from the previous year's count of 380 alleged extremist individuals. In contrast, the Constitutional Protection reduced its count of left-wing extremists by 70, leaving 1060 still active. However, Islamists continue to dominate as the largest extremist group, with a significant increase to 1840 individuals in 2023, compared to 1755 in 2022 and 955 in 2014.
Regarding Islamism, Grote expressed concern about calls for a caliphate at Islamist demonstrations in Hamburg, which contradict the principles of the German Constitution. He noted, however, that these calls have not yet gained a foothold structurally. The Interior Senator also expressed shock and commemoration for a police officer who was murdered by right-wing extremists earlier in the year.
In the face of these threats, internal security and the protection of the constitution remain top priorities for Germany, as extremism, whether right-wing or Islamist, poses a severe danger to the country's democratic values and social harmony.
