The situation involves an orchestrated danger.
More and more incidents of physical assaults on politicians are being reported. The reason for this growing brutality in society remains unclear. Beatrix von Storch, a guest on "Hart aber fair," believes that this social dehumanization can be traced to one particular group – those who don't belong to her own party, AfD.
A few days ago, Matthias Ecke, a leading SPD candidate for the European elections in Saxony, was attacked by four young men in Schandauer Straße, Dresden. His visible injuries from the attack are still causing discomfort. However, Ecke remains unshaken and intends to continue with his campaign until the upcoming European elections in June. Although the injuries could have been more severe, Ecke sees this assault as an attack on democracy.
For a while now, there's been a noticeable brutality in German politics, including Saxony, according to Ecke. He views this brutalization as an organized campaign led by the AfD and other extreme right-wing parties. Although he recognizes that the relationship between the democratic parties has become more aggressive, he stresses the need for a more constructive debate between coalition and opposition, focusing on the best ideas.
A Distorted Reality
On "Hart aber fair," the focus will be on the escalation of violence against politicians, targeted mainly at the Greens and the AfD. Beatrix von Storch, deputy leader of the AfD, will be a guest. While the AfD claims to stand for the free democratic principles, its MPs are regularly attacked in parliament. They are often described as undemocratic. "This is utter nonsense," von Storch argues. One can easily disprove such claims by reading through minutes or listening to recordings of Bundestag sessions available on the internet.
When asked about her own controversial statements against certain politicians, von Storch brushes them off. She ignores her previous characterization of SPD member Sebastian Fiedler as a "Nazi" and her reference to Green Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt as a "climate Nazi." Von Storch faces no enquiry regarding the false claims about her party on social media.
During the show, she holds the polarization in society responsible for the disruption of the social consensus. The consensus, according to her, revolves around the idea that Germany is not a country of immigration, requires energy from coal and nuclear power, and recognizes only two genders. At this point, she claims that "96" genders don't exist.
The AfD's Threat to Democracy
Katrin Göring-Eckardt, a Green politician, also shares Ecke's view. She believes that the political discourse has become more confrontational, which the AfD is responsible for. "They are democratically elected, but they're not democrats. Their policies and attitudes are a threat to our democratic system. And democratic leaders can't simply stand by and accept that," Göring-Eckardt says.
From a legal standpoint, the German Basic Law affirms the sanctity of human dignity. Yet, von Storch defends her fellow party members' behavior in parliament, where they've been seen insulting people based on their appearance, lifestyle, or background. This kind of judgmental rhetoric, says Göring-Eckardt, is an attack on society's democracy and its fundamental principles, as human dignity applies to everyone.
The deputy leader of the Union's parliamentary group, Dorothee Bär from the CSU, has observed a deterioration in language usage in the Bundestag since the AfD entered the parliament. "It's impossible to have a civil discussion in the plenary sessions, as the AfD does not wish to engage in civil debates," she states. "The AfD thrives on hatred and provocation, which benefits their political standing." However, this assertion about AfD members only greeting viewers on YouTube is debatable, as it can be confirmed by the session minutes. Von Storch has made offensive and misogynistic comments during parliamentary proceedings. "The dialogue has been tainted and ruptured since the AfD's presence in the Bundestag," Bär observes.
Does this negatively affect society? Martin Machowecz, the deputy editor-in-chief of Die Zeit, argues differently. "We've been accusing one another for the discourse's decline for a long time," he contends during the show. "I implore the CDU, Greens, and others to acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that issues are resolved in the country. This might encourage numerous individuals to defect from the AfD."
Göring-Eckardt agrees and adds, "We're trying our best." Although the initiative isn't universally appreciated, Fiedler, a politician from the SPD, agrees on the same note, saying, "The government works daily to address people's issues." However, he acknowledges that there is a dwindling public satisfaction towards the government.
Machowecz, however, is hopeful. "The AfD can be confronted," he says, noting that their support is now wavering. "It might not be all doom and gloom this year. Good politics can make a difference."
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Katrin Göring-Eckardt, a Green politician and critic of the AfD, frequently appears on TV shows to discuss the party's actions and rhetoric. During one such appearance, she accused Beatrix von Storch, the deputy leader of the AfD, of making divisive and offensive comments towards politicians.
On another TV program, Dorothee Bear, a high-ranking politician from the CSU, expressed concern over the use of language by AfD members in parliament, describing it as a deterioration of civil discourse and a thriving on hate and provocation.
Source: www.ntv.de
