Constitution - State parliament passes law on surveillance of extremists
In what was probably its last plenary session of this legislative period, the Hessian state parliament passed an amendment to the law on the surveillance of suspected extremists, among other things, by a majority. MPs from the CDU, SPD, Greens and FDP voted in favor of their "democracy package" in a roll-call vote in Wiesbaden on Tuesday, while MPs from the AfD and the Left Party voted against. In total, there were 100 votes in favor, 20 against and one abstention.
According to the amendment, the members of parliament's G10 Commission, who decide behind closed doors on certain surveillance measures by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, are to be elected in person in future. Until now, they have been appointed according to electoral arithmetic keys and party affiliation.
With the new regulation, a representative of the AfD will not automatically sit on the G10 Commission in future following the party's significant rise in the state elections in October. The committee currently consists of six parliamentarians from the CDU, SPD and Greens.
The AfD opposition criticized the amendment to the law as undemocratic. Its Parliamentary Secretary Frank Grobe complained in the short parliamentary session that the separation of powers was being further undermined. The AfD in particular, which had "never broken the constitution ", was to be kept out of the G10 Commission. The previous black-green state government, on the other hand, had broken the constitution three times in the five-year electoral term that was coming to an end, according to court rulings.
Christian Heinz from the CDU said that more than 60 new committees would be appointed in the new 21st legislative period starting on January 18. However, the G10 Commission is a "highly sensitive body". SPD parliamentary group leader Günter Rudolph emphasized that the amendment to the law was intended to strengthen democracy. Green parliamentary group leader Mathias Wagner emphasized that "no enemies of democracy can sit on committees that are supposed to protect democracy".
Jan Schalauske, outgoing leader of the Left Party parliamentary group, which is leaving the state parliament after 15 years due to its poor election results, said that he shared concerns about the rise of the AfD. However, the Left doubted that the "democracy pact" would stand up to the right-wing populists. According to Schalauske, "a democracy and social pact that improves the living conditions of all people" would have been better.
Irrespective of this, the adopted "Democracy Pact" also provides for a fine for rowdy MPs in future. The President can therefore set a payment of between 500 and 3000 euros.
After a fierce dispute, the CDU, SPD and FDP's efforts to increase the allowances for leading parliamentarians were excluded from the "Democracy Pact" and postponed to the new legislative period. The Greens spoke of a "rush job" shortly before the end of the legislative period. The plan had only recently become known.
The CDU and SPD in Hesse are currently negotiating a new governing coalition. They appear to be on the home straight. Minister President Boris Rhein recently announced his intention to sign a coalition agreement on December 18 if possible. As the clear winner of the state elections, the CDU had turned down the Greens as its previous alliance partners.
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- The Hessian state parliament, during its last plenary session of this period, passed an amendment to the law on monitoring suspected extremists, which includes the surveillance rule.
- The amendment to the law stipulates that the members of the G10 Commission, responsible for deciding on certain surveillance measures by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, will be elected personally in the future.
- The AfD, due to its significant rise in the state elections in October, will no longer automatically have a representative on the G10 Commission following the new regulation.
- The AfD opposition criticized the amendment as undemocratic, claiming that it further undermines the separation of powers and aims to keep them out of the G10 Commission.
- Christian Heinz from the CDU stated that over 60 new committees will be appointed in the new legislative period, but highlighted that the G10 Commission is a "highly sensitive body."
- SPD parliamentary group leader Günter Rudolph emphasized that the amendment is intended to strengthen democracy, and Green parliamentary group leader Mathias Wagner agreed, stating that no enemies of democracy can sit on committees protecting democracy.
- The adopted "Democracy Pact" also includes a fine for rowdy MPs in future, with the President able to set a payment between 500 and 3000 euros.
- In a dispute, the plan to increase the allowances for leading parliamentarians was excluded from the "Democracy Pact" and postponed to the new legislative period, with the Greens labeling it a "rush job" before the legislative period's end.
Source: www.stern.de
