AfD founder Bernd Lucke has invited Hamburg's science senator Katharina Fegebank to review his constitutional loyalty. "Please initiate a disciplinary procedure against me," he said in a by the weekly "Die Zeit" moderated debate with the Green Party politician Fegebank.
In doing so, he wanted to dispel doubts as to whether "in my political work I have always actively campaigned for the free-democratic basic order," said Lucke.
Lucke returned to the University of Hamburg at the beginning of the winter semester after five years as an MEP as an economics professor - and was received with a massive protest. Two of his lectures were therefore canceled or could not take place.
Due to Luckes "critical past" in the AfD, the student representative agency Asta had called for a rally against him, which resulted in riots and further protests.
"No one can take responsibility from you"
"Yes, these allegations against me are a blemish for the whole university," Lucke said in a dispute with Fegebank about which "time" reports in their upcoming issue. "I should not be an official if the allegations of the Asta were correct, so please let me investigate whether I acted dutifully."
The Senator for Science responded cautiously to Luckes demand: "You have founded the party that is going a far-right path today, and no one can take that responsibility from you, not even me," Fegebank said.
The fact that the Asta protested against Lucke in front of the lecture hall and distributed leaflets was legitimate, so Fegebank. "And in your case, I also find this protest comprehensible - you are undeniably a personality that evokes emotions."
Distorted disorders
To criticize that they have not clearly condemned the demolition of Luckes lecture initially, Fegebank says: "If the first statement was misunderstood, then that's unfortunate." Thereupon Lucke: "I accept your apology."
The University of Hamburg had also condemned the disturbances. These were "incompatible with the constitutionally guaranteed protection of the freedom of science," it said in a statement by the university.
Speaking to SPIEGEL, CDU Education Minister Anja Karliczek warned against "narrowing the political course". Referring to the protests against Lucke, she said, "It's not possible for student groups or activists to act as opinion censors."
