Brandenburgs AfD parliamentary group leader Christoph Berndt (front right) was rebuffed on Wednesday with his complaint before the constitutional court Photo: Oliver von Riegen/dpa
By Michael Sauerbier
Severe judicial defeat for Brandenburg’s far-right AfD! On Wednesday, the parliamentary group complained to the constitutional court for a seat on the secret service control commission. And flashed it off.
For three years, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been monitoring Brandenburg’s AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist. For just as long, the party has been trying to monitor the secret service – in the Parliamentary Control Commission (PKK). Its members are allowed to look at the files for the protection of the constitution in a shielded basement room. In the strictest secrecy.
But the majority of the state parliament did not want to elect a right-wing extremist to the post of trust. All 23 AfD deputies failed – including neo-Nazi Andreas Kalbitz, who is still allowed to sit in the AfD parliamentary group after being expelled from the party.
Now the right-wing extremists wanted to force a seat in court. Reason: their equality of opportunity was violated. The second largest faction must also be represented in the PKK.
Equal opportunity for the opposition is a valuable asset, the judges determined. And: State parliament committees must be a reflection of the representation of the people. But: No member of parliament should be forced to vote against his conviction and his conscience. With two MPs from the Free Voters and Left Party, the opposition makes up 40 percent of the five PKK members and is just as strong there as in parliament.
Six of the eight judges saw it the same way: complaint dismissed!
AfD faction leader Christoph Berndt accused the court of a “political decision”, complained: “This is a low blow for democracy in Brandenburg!”
On the contrary, says the SPD. “The judgment strengthens the free decision of the deputies,” said parliamentary group manager Ludwig Scheetz. “You don’t have to hand the shovel to the gravediggers of democracy.”