Thuringian AfD Holds Private Celebration in Erfurt
In the region of Thuringia, the AfD achieves an unprecedented success. The post-election celebration in Erfurt is exclusive, with the state leadership confining themselves to their circle. Traditional media outlets are barred from attending the event. However, this restriction does not seem to extend to personnel from the far-right extremist publication "Compact" magazine.
Journalists and photographers gathered at an Italian restaurant, the chosen gathering spot for AfD members and supporters on election night, eager to capture the reactions of the party base. Regrettably, this prohibition did not apply to all media personnel. As reported by an ARD correspondent present, employees from the radical-right publication "Compact" were broadcasting live from the celebratory proceedings.
Upon his arrival, AfD leader Björn Höcke declared, "We are poised to celebrate a monumental victory today." The decision to prohibit media access, despite the journalists' accreditation, was made only late on Saturday evening. According to ARD's projections, the AfD in Thuringia leads with over 30%, significantly ahead of other parties. Nevertheless, they do not appear to have a viable governing alliance, as all other parties have previously declared their unwillingness to cooperate.
The AfD's legal action, which compelled them to grant access to certain publications by court order, led them to call off the event in its current format. A party spokesman explained that, given a venue capacity of 200 people, admitting over 150 media representatives besides the 150 registered guests would result in unavoidable disruptions or even cancellation due to overcrowding. "The safety of all participants cannot be guaranteed under such circumstances," he added.
The Regional Court in Erfurt ruled on Saturday that the AfD was required to allow several journalists who had been denied entrance to their election party for the Thuringia election. The court thus sided with the plaintiff media outlets that perceived their press freedom at risk. However, the ruling was not yet enforceable. The news magazine "Der Spiegel," the Springer-owned publications "Bild" and "Welt," and the daily newspaper "taz" collectively sought legal intervention.
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Despite the court's ruling requiring the AfD to allow journalists, they decided to alter the event format due to capacity concerns. The AfD's willingness to accommodate far-right extremist publication "Compact" amidst media restrictions raises concerns about right-wing extremism within the party.
