Saxon Interior Ministry deletes controversial post on the Left after legal action

Following legal action by the Berlin Left, the Saxon Interior Ministry has deleted a controversial post about the party on social media. Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) also rejected the impression that the contribution was intended to harm a competitor for party political reasons.

After the Left's election victory in Berlin a week and a half ago, the CDU politician expressed concerns on Instagram about the party's possible participation in government. He addressed the issues of anti-Semitism and criminal clans and described the Left's election victory as a "slap in the face of righteous citizens."

The Left then asked the ministry through a law firm to issue a cease and desist declaration by October 2nd. The post was distributed via the official accounts of the Saxon Ministry of the Interior on Instagram and X.

Schuster: Wanted to warn against clan influence

Schuster now explained that he wanted to warn against influencing politics. In the experience of the security authorities, the joint public presentation of “clan heads” and public figures follows a strategy to “influence politics”. It is his job to “take a clear stance against any form of clan crime, extremism or anti-Semitism”.

The Berlin Left is also taking action against other politicians who have accused the party of anti-Semitism and proximity to criminal clans via social media. According to a party spokesman, a lawyer sent similar letters to Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) and the interior ministers of other countries, including Brandenburg.