Three state elections are coming up - and the AfD's chances are worrying German bishops.
In an open letter they appeal to voters.
Hamburg - There are state elections in Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia in September - the AfD is currently the strongest force in surveys in all three federal states.
Six German bishops are now warning against the right-wing party.
In an as yet unpublished open letter they appeal not to vote for the AfD – under the heading “Stand up for democracy”.
Open letter: Bishops strongly warn against AfD
According to Spiegel
, the “topmost guideline” of political action must be to “respect and protect the inviolable dignity of the human being,” says
the paper, which is to be published on Friday.
“Political parties that question this principle cannot, in our understanding, be an alternative.”
That is why six bishops would “express very clearly” that “against the background of our own conscience, we support the positions of extreme parties such as the III.
“We cannot accept the path of the Heimat party or even the AfD.”
Two-page letter: Six bishops appeal to society
In the two-page paper, the “Common Word of the North-East German Bishops,” they call on: “Choose responsibly.”
Signed by:
Archbishop Stefan Heße (Hamburg)
Archbishop Heiner Koch (Berlin)
Bishop Gerhard Feige (Magdeburg)
Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr (Erfurt)
Bishop Wolfgang Ipolt (Görlitz)
Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers (Dresden-Meißen)
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Erfurt Bishop Neymeyr hopes for a “wake-up call for AfD Catholics.”
© picture alliance/dpa |
Michael Reichel
Concern about survey results: “Hate and agitation are driving society apart”
Many people are “uncertain, angry and afraid of social decline,” it says.
Allowing yourself to be “captured by populist statements and seemingly simple solutions” is not a solution.
“Hate and agitation are driving society apart.”
The bishops write clearly that “the rejection of offers of protection for refugees,” “crude expulsion fantasies for migrants and their supporters,” and the “denial of man-made climate change” are incompatible with the “fundamental values of society.” Likewise, “blanket contempt for political Actors and institutions” are not tolerated.
Elections 2024: AfD leads overwhelmingly in Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony
In addition to the AfD's good poll numbers for the three state elections, the background is also the European elections in June.
Local elections are also taking place in nine federal states.
In addition ,
Correctiv
research revealed that AfD politicians met with right-wing extremists.
In Potsdam they discussed the mass deportation of foreigners and Germans with a migration background.
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Archbishop Heße: “There is no intersection between Christianity and the AfD”
© picture alliance/dpa |
Marcus Brandt
“Wake-up call for Catholics in the AfD”: Bishops clearly distance themselves from the AfD
The aim of the letter was to
“
motivate people not to make a voting decision based on their gut,” said Ulrich Neymeyr from Erfurt to Spiegel.
At the same time, it is also a “wake-up call for Catholics in the AfD who are alienating themselves from their faith through their membership.”
Hamburg Archbishop Heße also made it clear: “There is no intersection between Christianity and the AfD,” he told
Spiegel
.
Because of the AfD's “ethnic and nationalistic” ideas, the bishops agreed in December that they had to speak out.
After all, the party is “anti-democratic.”
(hk)
Category list image: © picture alliance/dpa |
Michael Reichel