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Extremism: Demonstration against security check for public service new hires
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Extremism: Demonstration against security check for public service new hires

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Hundreds demonstrated in Hamburg against a planned security check for new public service employees, which would involve inquiries at the domestic intelligence agency.
  • Unions and political groups, including the Left Party and AfD, oppose the measure, arguing it unfairly targets individuals and undermines trust in public institutions.
  • The proposed law aims to protect the administration from unconstitutional influences and is expected to be voted on by the city parliament soon, with a likely approval from the ruling red-green majority.

Several hundred people gathered in Hamburg to protest a planned security screening for new public service employees. The proposed measure would involve making inquiries at the state's domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, before new hires begin their roles.

The public service lives from people who take responsibility and work for our society. Anyone who places these people under general suspicion not only weakens the public service but also trust in democratic institutions.

— Sandra GoldschmidtThe state district leader for Verdi Hamburg explaining her opposition to the planned security inquiry.

Organizers, including the GEW and Verdi trade unions and the Hamburg Alliance Against Berufsverbote (professional bans), estimated the crowd at around 500 participants, while a German Press Agency photographer counted between 200 and 300. Police reported the demonstration proceeded peacefully.

The planned security check aims to identify potential unconstitutional activities among new employees and protect the city's administration from such influences. The Hamburg parliament is scheduled to vote on the bill, which was approved by the Senate in October, on Wednesday. The ruling red-green majority is expected to secure its passage, potentially allowing the law to take effect in August.

The planned inquiry is neither suitable nor necessary to protect democracy.

— Sven QuiringThe chairman of the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft Hamburg (GEW) on the proposed security measure.

However, the proposal faces significant opposition. Sandra Goldschmidt, state district leader for Verdi Hamburg, argued that the public service relies on responsible individuals and that subjecting them to a "general suspicion" weakens both the service and public trust in democratic institutions. Sven Quiring, chairman of the GEW Hamburg, stated the planned inquiry is neither suitable nor necessary for protecting democracy. The Left Party in parliament and the AfD parliamentary group also oppose the law. AfD faction leader Dirk Nockemann asserted that suitability, performance, loyalty to the constitution, and personal conduct should be the deciding factors in hiring, not political conformity or whether an intelligence service holds information.

Suitability, performance, loyalty to the constitution, and personal conduct must be decisive – not political conformity or the mere question of whether a secret service holds information.

— Dirk NockemannThe AfD parliamentary group leader criticizing the criteria for the proposed security checks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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