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German Federal States — News — Brandenburg — Federal government — State election — Raids — Compact — SPD — Germany — Hans-Christoph Berndt — Berlin — Dietmar Woidke — media — AfD — Falkensee — Nancy Faeser — Extremism — Democracy

Woidke supports 'Compact'-ban for necessary - Critique of AfD

Faeser, the Interior Minister, bans the magazine 'Compact'. Brandenburg's Governor welcomes the step. The state-AFD is shocked.

,   and  Hanna Hofmann
3 min read
Raids in Brandenburg: 'Compact' Magazine is forbidden.
Raids in Brandenburg: 'Compact' Magazine is forbidden.

Raids - Woidke supports 'Compact'-ban for necessary - Critique of AfD

The ban on the "Compact"-Magazine from Falkensee, classified as right-wing extremist by Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD), is a necessary and justified step. "Right-wing extremist and antisemitic thought endangers our liberal-democratic order," Woidke stated. "The democratic constitutional state shows that it is effective and takes action against enemies of the constitution."

The Brandenburg AfD criticizes the ban, with AfD fraction leader and state election candidate Hans-Christoph Berndt stating, "That's even more than a black day for democracy." He accused the federal government of violating property and press freedom. "If freedom of opinion applies, one must endure a magazine like 'Compact'."

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) banned the "Compact"-Magazine and Conspect Film GmbH. Faeser justified the step by stating that "Compact" is a "central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene."

AfD state representative was an employee

"Divergent opinions are suppressed, media are banned," Berndt criticized in a statement from the AfD state association. He spoke of "methods like in an authoritarian police state," to which the Federal Republic "is increasingly becoming." "The AfD Brandenburg stands further solidary with Compact." The ban caused approximately six-digit damages to the AfD due to contracts for campaign stages.

Brandenburg AfD state representative Lars Günther, according to his own statements, was an employee of the Compact-Magazine GmbH until 2019. His duties included the role of sales representative and assistant to the management. Günther criticized the ban as an "attack on press freedom." "That's the handwriting that is written in real dictatorships."

Interior Minister: "Hate and Incitement in High Gloss"

The Compact-Magazine GmbH has been observed as a proven right-wing extremist tendency by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Constitutional Protection Agency Brandenburg since 2021. "Compact" describes itself as an 'oppositional' medium with the following goal: "We want to overthrow the regime," it says in the latest Constitutional Protection Report Brandenburg. The AfD state association is classified as a right-wing extremist suspect case by the state Constitutional Protection Agency, and there are relationships to "Compact."

Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) calls the magazine "Hate and Incitement in High Gloss." "Right-wing extremist conspiracy theories, calls to overthrow democracy, and the permanent dissemination of Russian disinformation campaigns" are the cornerstones of the "daily Compact propaganda," said the CDU politician. "That's it."

Raids in several Brandenburg locations

According to the ministry, apartments and business premises in Falkensee, Werder, Panketal, and Groß Kreutz were searched for assets and further evidence. Over 200 law enforcement officers from the Brandenburg Police and the Federal Police were involved. Raids also took place in Hesse, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Control Commission of the Landtag, Uwe Adler (SPD), views the ban on the magazine as a "sign for the strength of our democracy." The CDU-faction leader Jan Redmann labels "Compact-Magazine" as "intellectual arsonists against our democracy." Green-faction leader Benjamin Raschke also calls for a ban for Compact-TV on the internet.

Brandenburg's Left faction leader Sebastian Walter sees no infringement on press freedom: "This entire concept of this magazine was always intended to be the people's receiver for the AfD," said Walter.

  1. Thebancharge of the Parliamentary Control Commission in Brandenburg, Uwe Adler (SPD), viewed the ban on the "Compact"-Magazine as a "sign for the strength of our democracy."
  2. The Federal Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser (SPD), banned the "Compact"-Magazine and Conspect Film GmbH, justifying the step due to the magazine being a "central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene."
  3. Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) stated that the ban on the "Compact"-Magazine, classified as right-wing extremist, was a necessary and justified step to protect liberty-democratic order.
  4. The AfD state representative in Brandenburg, Lars Günther, worked as an employee at the Compact-Magazine GmbH until 2019, serving as a sales representative and assistant to the management.
  5. Berndt, the AfD fraction leader and state election candidate, criticized the ban as an "attack on press freedom," claiming it was "the handwriting that is written in real dictatorships."
  6. Raids were conducted in several locations in Brandenburg, including Falkensee, Werder, Panketal, and Groß Kreutz, by over 200 law enforcement officers in search of assets and evidence related to the "Compact"-Magazine and its associates.
  7. Brandenburg's Interior Minister, Michael Stübgen (CDU), characterized the "Compact"-Magazine as "Hate and Incitement in High Gloss," where right-wing extremist conspiracy theories, calls to overthrow democracy, and dissemination of Russian disinformation campaigns were common.
  8. The Green-faction leader, Benjamin Raschke, called for a ban on Compact-TV on the internet, adding to the growing consensus against the right-wing extremist magazine and its affiliates.

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