Alexander Gauland, August 14, 2019, Elections in Germany

Alexander Gauland

Elections in Germany

AfD Kompakt, August 14, 2019

[Alexander Gauland is a national chairman of the Alternative für Deutschland as well as a chairman of the AfD delegation in the German Bundestag where he holds a seat representing  the eastern state of Brandenburg. State elections in Brandenburg and Saxony will be held September 1.]

For too long has the CDU dealt like a stepmother with the the citizens in the east. The systematic prejudice against easterners is now being being denounced even from within the CDU. AKK’s [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, CDU general-secretary] demands for an increased presence of national politicians in the east indicates that she does not understand the electoral situation in the east. The problems with which the people are actually engaged are: uncontrolled mass migration, the decline of domestic security, and the lack of investment for the maintenance and construction of infrastructure. For too long were these problems neglected by or else initially caused by the CDU. The citizens do not want more politicians but a better politics. The CDU obviously has no connection to the reality of people in the east. It cannot thus win back the forsaken trust.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

Joana Cotar, August 10, 2019, State-financed Digital Cloud

Joana Cotar

State-financed Digital Cloud

AfD Kompakt, August 10, 2019

[Joana Cotar is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the central German state of Hessen. A communications manager, she is the AfD’s Bundestag spokesman for digital policy and since 2016 has been the AfD’s social media manager.]

The quite real problem of deficient data security of cloud servers such as Amazon, Google or Microsoft is once more addressed by the Federal government with a poorly thought out snap response. Naturally it is problematic that these servers have been obligated, on account of the American cloud regulations, to guarantee to U.S. officials wide-ranging access to their data – even when these have not been stored in the USA. The building of a state-financed cloud presents however an unnecessary interference in the competition and, with additional subventions, burdens on the purse of the citizen.

Overflowing bureaucracy, high taxation and high energy costs for computer centers rob cloud providers of their business potential. These roots of many digital policy problems must be addressed if Germany in the IT area is not to lose ever more economic initiative and political sovereignty.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

Martin Reichardt, Value-added Tax on Meat, August 8, 2019

Martin Reichardt

Value-added Tax on Meat

Afd Kompakt, August 8, 2019

[Martin Reichardt is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the eastern German state of Sachsen-Anhalt where he is also AfD chairman. A Bundeswehr officer, he is the AfD’s family policy spokesman in the Bundestag.]

On December 14, 2018, the AfD Bundestag delegation introduced a motion to lower to 7% the value-added tax [VAT] on children's goods. This would be a first step to relieve families. For decades is the child and family poverty in Germany scandalously high. Now the Greens, SPD and CDU want to increase the VAT on a basic food commodity which will affect those who at the end of the month have not a penny left over. Families which must buy cheap meat from the discounters are not being cruel to animals – they simply have no money.

Animal protection is necessary but must not be to the burden of families and those of low income. The Greens, SPD and CDU with this demand demonstrate that, in their politics, families and small pensioners no longer have standing [Stellenwert]. When in committee, I am happy to advise the relief of families by a reduced VAT. Here can all parties demonstrate their family-friendliness.