In a few weeks, the AfD could lead a government after its election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. If this happens, then it is very likely that she will appoint the Minister of the Interior, who is in charge of the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. This prospect concerns the interior ministers of the other federal states and the security authorities. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony-Anhalt has classified the AfD there as “certainly right-wing extremist” and is monitoring it. Sensitive information about right-wing extremism and the AfD could then flow to the party. This could also affect informants and undercover agents that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has in the AfD and the right-wing extremist scene.
There are also fears that sensitive information about Russian espionage or Russia's defense against hybrid attacks could be passed on to Moscow via an AfD government in Magdeburg. The party has maintained close contacts with the Russian leadership for years, AfD politicians have repeatedly traveled to Russia and met Russian politicians and diplomats there - even after the attack on Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin, in turn, supports the AfD and instructs its propaganda agencies to orchestrate campaigns for them on social networks. Putin's confidant Kirill Dmitriev congratulated the AfD on its "historic victory" in Saxony-Anhalt.
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It could happen on October 6th
The interior ministers of the federal states and the constitutional protection authorities have been discussing for months how to respond to this threat to Germany's internal and external security. But no decisions have been made on this yet. It also played a role that the interior ministers did not want to give the impression that a victory for the AfD in the election in Saxony-Anhalt was already a foregone conclusion. But now time is running out. The state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt will meet on October 6th. And according to the constitution, a prime minister could then be elected.
The interior ministers, as the F.A.Z. confirmed by several sources, they discussed how they wanted to proceed in a switching conference on Tuesday afternoon. At the same time, the presidents of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution met in Cologne for three days until Friday. It is indeed their regular conference. But here too the topic played a prominent role.
Only 13 votes instead of 16
One step to protect the security structures from damage could be to change a rule of the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK) that has been in effect for more than 70 years. Since its founding in 1954, all decisions have been made unanimously. This was considered an unwritten principle; the IMK does not have any rules of procedure. Now the unanimity should be lifted. From now on, a majority of 13 of the 16 votes could be sufficient for resolutions. Then one, two or even three AfD ministers would not have the opportunity to torpedo the conference.
At the request of the F.A.Z. The Interior Ministers of Thuringia and North Rhine-Westphalia, Georg Maier (SPD) and Herbert Reul (CDU), did not want to comment on the meeting. It is also said from other federal states that it has been agreed that for the time being only Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) should do this as the current chairman of the committee. He generally points out that the IMK has always emphasized that it is prepared to ensure the ability and integrity of the joint security structures in Germany at all times. And that's exactly what you're doing now.
Cut off from sharing information
However, the ministers did not make a decision on Tuesday, as several FAZ interlocutors pointed out. expressly. The debate was open, numerous questions still needed to be clarified. At the same time, they confirmed that the switching conference essentially revolved around four points, which the “Bild” newspaper reported on on Wednesday.
Firstly, consideration is being given to targeting the new AfD faction - it largely consists of right-wing extremists and Russia sympathizers. Secondly, in the case of findings relating to right-wing extremism and Russia, Saxony-Anhalt could be excluded from the usual automatic exchange of information within the federal and state constitutional authorities. This applies, for example, when it comes to Russia, to hybrid attacks such as those recently at Leipzig/Halle Airport or to disinformation and hacker attacks.
A third measure could be to restrict access to the intelligence information system (NADIS) for Saxony-Anhalt. Fourthly, the fact that the above-mentioned unanimity principle applies to IMK decisions on security-related topics is apparently a given.
The danger of “black spots”
According to information from the FAZ, there are other points. On the other hand, there is still a need for clarification, which Union-led countries in particular consider to be quite significant. The experts must now deal with this. Then there will be a decision on these points - or not, they say.
Neither can one allow an AfD-led government to obtain sensitive information and then forward it directly to Russia. Because this would endanger politicians, intelligence service employees and Russian exiles in this country. At the same time, however, it is important to carefully weigh up the approach and its effects.
There are ministers in the IMK circle who fear that “black spots” could appear on Germany’s security map. If Saxony-Anhalt and other states that may be led by the AfD in the future are cut off from the exchange, the federal government and the other states will not receive any information from there in return. Against this background, it is also good to think three or four times, said an expert familiar with the matter to the F.A.Z. However, the IMK will have made a decision in time before a possible election of Ulrich Siegmund (AfD) as Prime Minister in Saxony-Anhalt.
