Survey: Majority for banning three AfD state associations

A majority of Germans believe that a ban on the AfD regional associations in Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, which the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified as definitely right-wing extremist, would make sense. This is shown by the results of a representative survey by the polling institute Pollytix on behalf of the campaign organization Campact.

According to the information, 59 percent of those eligible to vote said that, in their view, such a ban was a “very good idea” or a “fairly good idea”. 38 percent of German citizens would find such a ban bad or rather bad.

The pollsters found the greatest support for a ban on these three East German AfD state associations among the supporters of the Greens and SPD. According to the information, there was somewhat less support for this proposal among those who, if there were a federal election next Sunday, would vote for the CDU, CSU, Left or FDP. Many of the supporters of Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) view such a ban with skepticism. According to Pollytix, almost all of the AfD supporters surveyed were against it.

Correctiv revelations cause concern

The pollsters also asked about a report from the Correctiv research center about a meeting of radical right-wingers in Potsdam in November, in which AfD politicians as well as individual members of the CDU and the very conservative Values ​​Union took part.

The Austrian right-wing extremist Martin Sellner said he spoke about “remigration” at the meeting. When right-wing extremists use this term, they usually mean that large numbers of people of foreign origin should leave the country – even under duress.

Almost four out of five eligible voters have heard or read about the Correctiv revelations. 68 percent of those who saw these reports expressed concern about the content discussed there.

Since Correctiv first reported on the meeting in Potsdam on January 10th, there have been repeated protests across the country warning against right-wing extremism and in some cases sharply criticizing the AfD. According to police information, more than 900,000 people took part last weekend alone.

Felix Kolb, managing director of Campact, said: “The protests against the AfD are a strong signal from the middle of society against right-wing extremism and for freedom, democracy and human rights.” According to its own information, Pollytix surveyed 1,530 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide online between January 19th and 22nd.

Faeser: Illuminating financial flows in right-wing extremist networks

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) wants to focus more on personal and financial connections in right-wing extremist circles in the fight against right-wing extremism. “It is a high priority for us to illuminate and uncover the personal and financial connections in right-wing extremist networks,” said the SPD politician to the Editorial Network Germany (RND).

According to Faeser, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has significantly expanded its resources and capabilities for financial investigations over the last year and a half. “We are looking closely at which circles are at work here: from the Identitarian movement to the parties and associations on the right-wing fringe – and to entrepreneurs or private individuals who support them with their money,” said the minister. “No one who donates to right-wing extremist organizations should rely on remaining undetected.”

With a view to a meeting of radical right-wingers in Potsdam, Faeser said: “The fact that right-wing extremist networks want to expel people from Germany en masse because of their ethnic origin is an attack on human dignity and thus on the foundations of our society. This was about racist deportation fantasies, but At the same time, it’s also about collecting money to carry on the inhumane ideologies behind it.”