Political competition - AfD wants to collect "misconduct of other parties" by email
The AfD in Bavaria collects allegedly incriminating material on representatives of political rivals via email from their members. "We have set up an email where AfD members can sign up if there are mistakes from other parties," confirmed the chairman of the regional branch, Stephan Protschka, to the German Press Agency on Friday. It's about supporting party members on site and making it public as well. The BR was the first to report on the collection.
The action is called "Democracy Watch"
Protschka named the reason for the collection action under the slogan "Democracy Watch" as an imbalanced media representation of his party in comparison to others in his view. The action is limited to Bavaria and, to his knowledge, the first of its kind by the AfD in the free state, said the regional chairman. "The email has been in circulation for about a week and was a wish of our communal politicians."
In an internal email of the state executive committee about the action, which the dpa has access to, Protschka urged AfD members to participate actively and report "mistakes by mandate holders of our competitors" on the communal, district, or state level - accompanied by the reminder: "It's best to provide evidence in the form of newspaper articles, posts in social media, etc."
Sharp criticism from representatives of other parties
Representatives of other parties in Bavaria reacted sharply to the action. CSU fraction leader in the state parliament, Klaus Holetschek, called the action over the BR "Stasi method": "One is called upon to denounce and this is systematized on one's own platform under the slogan 'Democracy Watch'. I find that incredible." SPD fraction leader Florian von Brunn told the BR: "It's a denunciation portal. Such a thing actually only exists in dictatorships. It seems that they have oriented themselves on such models." The deputy fraction leader of the Greens in the state parliament, Johannes Becher, described the action as an attack on democracy: "AfD stands apparently for 'Alternative for Denunciation'." The goal is, it seems, to intimidate and silence people.
- Stephan Protschka, the chairman of the AfD in Bavaria, defended their "Democracy Watch" action, which involves collecting allegedly incriminating material on rivals' representatives, stating that it's aimed at supporting party members and making public any mistakes.
- The BR was the first to report on the AfD's collection action in Bavaria, which is limited to the state and, according to Protschka, is the first of its kind by the AfD in a free state.
- In an internal email, Protschka urged AfD members to actively participate in the action by reporting "mistakes" by rivals' mandate holders, providing evidence in the form of newspaper articles or social media posts.
- Criticism from representatives of other parties in Bavaria was sharp, with CSU fraction leader Klaus Holetschek comparing the action to the Stasi method, SPD fraction leader Florian von Brunn labeling it a denunciation portal, and Johannes Becher of the Greens describing it as an attack on democracy.
