German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 19/210,
pp. 26538-26539.
Frau President. Sovereign house.
Herr Seehofer, I personally do not buy that for you the
Federal police [Bundespolizei] are a
jewel among the security authorities. I unfortunately believe that this is
otherwise in the government environment. I believe that the Bundespolizei are rather the stepchild
of the security authorities.
We are speaking of a law which – you have said it – is almost
20 years old; we are in the fifth year following the Federal Constitutional
Court’s decision that extensive parts of this law are unconstitutional. So much
for a jewel. So much for what the coalition delegations think of the opposition,
and generally of this house, when this law will be placed at the disposal of the
delegations just two days before the first reading.
Even though it was hard times for the Bundespolizei: Refugee crisis, terrorism, finally the control of
the borders in the Corona crisis. We are grateful that the Bundespolizei, this outstanding team under an outstanding President
Dieter Romann, has set right the Chancellor: Of course the borders can be
closed. Despite the hatred from the leftist activist side, these officials have
performed outstandingly. For that is meant the thanks of the AfD and the German
people.
Benjamin Strasser (FDP): Your own party does not applaud!
Michael Brand (CDU/CSU-Fulda): Your own troops are shocked!
You finally react to the Federal Constitutional Court’s criticism
from the year 2016 and create a legal basis for the work of the Bundespolizei, which for years, if not
for decades, has been overdue. Herr Minister Seehofer, you have named some of
the contents: Surveillance of telecommunications, identification and
localization of mobile phone cards, deployment of technical means against
remotely controlled equipment, circulation of reports, residence bans and much
more. This is all very praiseworthy and is about time.
It is clear – you have also named it – why the BMI [Federal Ministry for the Interior]
wanted to give it the gas: Because the coalition partner, the SPD, ever again
proves itself to be a security risk. On that account indeed, the coalition
partner, by striking out essential parts of the draft, must bring in a basic
version. You all know: The next coalition partner – presumably the Greens –
will be a security policy fiasco.
The problem with the draft law is that it will not once
correct the status quo; of vision, we simply just do not want to speak. You do so,
as in many areas, as if there was no digital world. The area of cyber defense
was completely removed from the draft – indeed under pressure from the SPD, as
is ever again heard. Yet cyber attacks are in the civil as well as in the
military area the greatest threat – transgressing borders – to which we are
exposed. One may think of the criminal bands. One may think of states like
China, Russia and North Korea.
We have heard this day in the Interior Committee from BKA [Federal Criminal Office] President Münch of how successfully our
officials can fight when they are allowed; namely, in the control of the Emotet
malware against the Ukrainian bandits. Yet this is plainly only in the way of
official assistance; that is to say, if the BKA
is in the position to reciprocate the official assistance of authorities of
other countries and work together with them. Yet what is done if official
assistance is not to be expected? Then the Bundespolizei
is responsible [zuständig], yet
not correspondingly set up [aufgestellt].
Here, we leave them in the lurch: No legal basis, as has been the case in both
areas for 20 long years.
One must be able to discuss the controversial hackback; thus,
the destruction of enemy servers across borders. One must also be able to
discuss facial recognition. One cannot simply look away and act as if there was
no criminal cyber world.Thus this draft law, doubtless well made, remains
standing in yesterday.
Let us simply look three-quarters of a year ahead: There
will be a new coalition partner. We thereon proceed that it will be the Greens.
It is to be feared that Herr von Notz, with whom one can discuss on point, will
fall victim to some gender quota
Michael Brand (CDU/CSU-Fulda): There is nothing for you without an apocalypse!
and will unfortunately not become Interior Minister. What
will happen? The Bundespolizei – like
many security authorities – will become CO2-neutral. We may ride
bicycles, and we will communicate with help of carrier pigeons and light
signals.
Good night. Feel safe. Thanks.
[trans: tem]
