AfD Victory in Sachsen-Anhalt: Police Unions Warn of Rising Security Risks

German police unions and interior ministers are warning of significant risks to state security and the democratic rule of law should the Alternative for Germany (AfD) win the upcoming state election in Sachsen-Anhalt. The warnings follow polling that indicates the party is approaching an absolute majority in the state.

Security and Intelligence Concerns

The potential for a change in government has prompted high-level concerns regarding the protection of state security structures. Georg Maier, the Interior Minister of Thuringia (SPD), has raised alarms about how a potential AfD administration might impact the handling of sensitive information held by the police, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and international partners.

The primary concern involves the potential loss of control over data and intelligence within the interior and justice ministries. Dirk Peglow, the chairman of the Federal Association of Criminal Investigators (BDK), emphasized that the ability of the state to function democratically is at stake.

The functionality of the democratic rule of law is at stake, particularly regarding the interior and justice ministries where access to security-relevant information is critical.

The vulnerability of these specific ministries is a central point of the debate, as they oversee the mechanisms required to maintain internal security and the administration of justice.

Administrative Integrity and Political Appointments

Beyond the handling of data, police unions have expressed concern regarding the potential for political interference in the civil service. Heiko Teggatz, the federal chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG), warned that a change in leadership could lead to a widespread exchange of political civil servants.

Teggatz specifically identified roles such as state secretaries, department heads, and presidents of superior authorities as being at risk of being replaced by political loyalists. He noted that such a shift would allow political parties to install individuals based on party affiliation rather than professional merit.

This carries the danger that parties like the AfD or Die Linke can install their party soldiers at decisive positions.

To prevent this, Teggatz proposed a measure to limit the appointment of political civil servants exclusively to the level of state secretaries, thereby protecting higher-level administrative and operational roles from partisan influence.

These concerns regarding administrative control are reinforced by reports that the AfD intends to refill up to 200 positions within the state administration if they secure a victory in Sachsen-Anhalt.

Civil Service Protections and Legal Rights

The legal protections afforded to civil servants are also a focal point of the warnings. Jochen Kopelke, the federal chairman of the Police Union (GdP), has expressed particular concern regarding the Remonstrationsrecht, which is the legally established right of civil servants to refuse orders that they believe to be unlawful.

Kopelke noted that the AfD has criticized this right and signaled an intention to restrict it, which could have profound implications for the legality of government actions and the accountability of officials.

I am concerned about how the AfD criticizes the right of remonstrance and certainly wants to restrict it.

Kopelke suggested that the practical ability of an AfD-led government to function could be compromised by security protocols. He noted that if government members are denied security clearances, they would be unable to access the classified information necessary to perform their duties.

Election Context and Political Landscape

The state of Sachsen-Anhalt is scheduled to hold its state parliament elections on September 6. The political landscape is currently dominated by the AfD, whose top candidate is Ulrich Siegmund. According to recent polling, the party is positioned well ahead of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is led by Minister-President Sven Schulze.

The security implications of the election are underscored by the classification of the party by state authorities. The Sachsen-Anhalt Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the local AfD branch as “secured right-wing extremist.”