Alexander Gauland, August 6, 2020, Criticism of Government

Alexander Gauland

Criticism of Government

AfD Kompakt, August 6, 2020

[Alexander Gauland is honorary national chairman of the Alternative für Deutschland and is a chairman of the AfD delegation in the German Bundestag.]

In regards the discussion over the Corona demonstrations of the past weekends, we must take care that our state of law is not damaged. Since the suspicion ever more imposes itself that, for many of the critics of the demonstrations in Berlin, it is about neutralizing undesired criticism of the Corona precautions. For politicians like the CDU interior expert Armin Schuster or Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, it must be unbearable when people, even in the time of a pandemic, cast doubt upon the sensibility of government directives and peacefully protest against them. Yet it ought not to be that criticism of the Corona precautions is re-interpreted as an attack on the democratic system and thus the Constitution Defense is to be summoned. Thereby is the axe put to the right to demonstrate as guaranteed by the Basic Law.

It cannot be sufficiently often emphasized: Whatever the demonstration, for or against is no concern of the state. What is decisive is whether the demonstration’s participants conduct themselves peaceably. And of that, there is no doubt in regards the Corona demonstrations of the past weekends. Criticism of the government must also be possible in the time of Corona. Even in the streets. Similarly, it becomes ever more clear measuring that with two small standards. If, for example, a basketball player is dismissed from his league  because he has taken part in the Corona demonstrations in Berlin without a mask and, on the other hand, a football player, who is shown in a film excerpt at a Black Lives Matter demonstration without a mask, need fear no sanctions but will even be invited by Dunya Hayali onto the current Sportstudio, then something has gone terribly awry.

[trans: tem]  

Beatrix von Storch, August 6, 2020, Hezbollah Ban

Beatrix von Storch

Hezbollah Ban

AfD Kompakt, August 6, 2020

[Beatrix von Storch is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from Berlin. She is a lawyer. Horst Seehofer (CSU) is the German Interior Minister]

We of the AfD have demanded a complete organization ban of this Islamist terrorist organization which previously in the Bundestag was steadily rejected by the established parties. Nevertheless, under our pressure, Seehofer in fact grudgingly agreed to an activities ban on Hezbollah in Germany; but given the current legal situation, it will in no way rectify the terrorist threats of these fanatical anti-semites and haters of Israel. If the information in Welt is correct, that the Federal government was informed months ago by the Israeli secret service Mossad of the Hezbollah ammonium-nitrate stores in Germany, it is not comprehensible that Seehofer and the Groko [grand coalition] have not heeded the AfD’s motion for a complete organization ban on Hezbollah. Seehofer as Interior minister bears responsibility for security and must now act. Completely ban Hezbollah as an organization and expel all Hezbollah members.

[trans: tem]

Leif-Erik Holm, August 7, 2020, Nord Stream 2

Leif-Erik Holm

Nord Stream 2

AfD Kompakt, August 7, 2020

[Leif-Erik Holm is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern where he is also the AfD state chairman. He is a radio moderator. Three U.S. senators have recently threatened to impose economic sanctions on a marine engineering firm involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline carrying natural gas from Russia to Germany with a planned landfall on the Baltic coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.]

The threats of destruction from the U.S.A. are an unbelievable boorishness and require immediately a sharp response from the Federal government – which so far unfortunately is wanting. It is completely unacceptable  when an ostensible ally and friend conducts itself like an occupying power. We must now unmistakably affirm our sovereignty. Frau Merkel can no longer beat the brush but must set a limit to the U.S. administration’s encroaching offensive.

In my view, an appropriate, initial response could be a lifting of the Russia sanctions. That would send the correct signal across the Atlantic. Should the U.S. senators nevertheless fulfill their threats, Germany must reply with sharp sanctions. We should therefore not shrink from completely closing the U.S. military bases in Germany. The Federal government must urgently concern itself with the insecurity of the Baltic harbor at Rügen. Berlin should offer to buy the harbor at Mukran from the city of Sassnitz and the state of MV [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern] so as to make clear that the Federal government is unwilling to yield even a millimeter. We must once and for all make clear that we will not accept a meddling in our affairs. A binding guarantee is also required from Berlin that this pipeline will be finished, whatever the U.S.A. does.

[trans: tem]