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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

AfD in Saxony-Anhalt: Foundation Warns of Right-Wing Violence and Calls for a Democracy Shield

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Amadeu Antonio Foundation warned that the AfD's election success in Saxony-Anhalt could lead to an escalation of right-wing violence and threaten civil society organizations and minorities.
  • It called on the federal government to establish a long-term "Democracy Shield" to reliably fund democratic civil society groups in economically weak regions.
  • The foundation launched a petition addressed to the government's Eastern Germany commissioner, Elisabeth Kaiser, and warned against an AfD-led state government.

The AfD's election victory in Saxony-Anhalt has intensified fears among civil society organizations, prompting the Amadeu Antonio Foundation to demand a nationwide protection mechanism for democratic groups.

The foundation called on the federal government in Berlin to create a "Democracy Shield." The proposed program would provide long-term, reliable support for democratic civil society organizations in all structurally weak regions of Germany. The foundation has also launched an online petition addressed to Elisabeth Kaiser, the federal government's commissioner for eastern Germany.

Timo Reinfrank, the foundation's executive director, issued a stark warning about the prospect of the AfD taking power in Saxony-Anhalt. The foundation said such a change would not amount to an ordinary transfer of government. Under an AfD administration, it warned, "right-wing violence could escalate, civil society work could be obstructed and schools could become arenas for far-right influence."

right-wing violence could escalate, civil society work could be obstructed and schools could become arenas for far-right influence

· Timo Reinfrank and the Amadeu Antonio FoundationThe foundation's warning about the possible consequences of an AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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