“Democracy under pressure”
Protection of the Constitution: AfD spreads Kremlin propaganda
05/22/2023, 10:58 am
The AfD is doing better than ever in polls. She is currently also scoring points with the demand to end the sanctions against Russia. President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Haldenwang, has accused the party of spreading Russian propaganda.
The President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, sees the AfD as an important player in the dissemination of Russian propaganda in Germany. “By parts of this party also passing on Russian narratives, continuing to control them, this helps right-wing extremism to expand in Germany and Putin’s song is also sung in these circles,” said Haldenwang in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”.
In a symposium this Monday, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution wanted to talk about the influence of authoritarian states on democracy. Germany certainly has one of the most stable democracies in the world, said Haldenwang. But he also emphasized: “This democracy is coming under increasing pressure. We are actually seeing attacks on this democracy from various sides, from within and from without.”
Russia, for example, is trying to destabilize the democratic system in Germany on many levels. For example, the tale is spreading that the Kremlin is also waging the war against Ukraine because its own security interests have been violated by the West.
Such narrative patterns would be carried on by parts of the AfD in Germany, among other things, said Haldenwang. “And you have good channels, also in large sections of the population. In this respect, there is no longer a need for Russian media, but German media in this environment will then also take over these narratives.”