As of: January 21, 2024, 12:09 p.m
By: Marcus Giebel
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Press
Split
All over Germany, citizens are taking to the streets against the policies of the AfD.
Their leading figure Björn Höcke makes a tasteless comparison.
Berlin – It's getting even rougher.
The tone of the AfD.
In response to the sudden headwind that is blowing against the right-wing populists across the Federal Republic.
Sparked by tens of thousands of demonstrators who no longer want to endure the views and rhetoric, especially from Björn Höcke, in silence.
People are taking to the streets in countless cities this weekend; in Hamburg there were so many on Friday that the announced event had to be canceled.
Höcke scolds anti-AfD demonstrators: “It looked like the Nazi torchlight marches in 1933”
The message conveyed by the masses that Germany is putting a stop to all forms of racism and discrimination obviously also moves the main recipient.
And he allows himself to be carried away with defamation and a comparison that the AfD otherwise likes to accuse its opponents of: the reference to Nazi Germany.
As a Twitter video reveals, Höcke claimed during a speech in Gera: “They held flashlights, i.e. cell phone lights, up into the sky, but it looked a bit like the Nazi torchlight marches in 1933.” Meanwhile, the room was abuzz Dead silence.
Has a disgusting comparison for the anti-AfD demonstrators: Björn Höcke has to think about the Nazi era.
© IMAGO
Höcke addresses foreign journalists: “Germany is no longer a functioning democracy”
Thuringia's AfD leader, who will possibly be the strongest force in the Erfurt state parliament from autumn, went further against the demonstrators: “These people who are now on the side, who are on the side of alleged democracy.
No, Germany in 2024 - and I say this very emphatically at this point, especially to the foreign camera teams - Germany in 2024 is no longer a functioning democracy." Höcke received the applause he had hoped for.
As
Bild
reports, the 51-year-old took another shot at the protesters - and again the country's darkest hour had to serve as a reference point: "The cartel parties, especially the Reds and Greens, have put together a street fighter force.
These do-gooders, often financed by taxes, who held up the lights are the same people who organized the torchlight marches in Nazi Germany in 1933.” The former history teacher is very oblivious to history.
Correctiv attacked by AfD: Party locates “left-wing extremists” in editorial network
Especially since the current demonstrations are known to have had a trigger that shook up large parts of the nation at the beginning of the year.
The published research by the editorial network
Correctiv
about a meeting of some very powerful AfD members with well-known right-wing extremists in a villa in Potsdam, where a plan to “remigrate” certain population groups was presented, had a hello-wake effect.
Since then, the team has also been in the sights of the AfD and its supporters.
The membership magazine “AfD compact” writes that
Correctiv
would employ “lots of left-wing extremists and political rioters”.
One of the founders and a journalist are directly attacked.
Correctiv accuses AfD: Party mobilizes radical circles with language
Correctiv
itself reports that since the publication of the “secret plan against Germany” research, the team has received “hate comments and threats – including from the AfD”.
This formulated “a thinly disguised threat that was shared on several party channels.”
The final sentence is highlighted: “Smear throwers and left-wing extremists who spread their propaganda under the guise of journalism must be put in their place!” According to
Correctiv,
such a sentence “is suitable for mobilizing people, especially in radical circles.
The party accepts exactly that.”
Omnipresent at the AfD demonstrations: many signs explicitly warn about Björn Höcke.
© IMAGO / Hanno Bode
Threatening call to Correctiv reporter: question about police protection is repeated
An incident from January 18th is also discussed.
On that day, a
Correctiv
reporter was asked twice by an anonymous caller in front of witnesses whether he had police protection.
After that it was hung up.
On the other hand, the team also received a lot of encouraging news.
Although counter-arguments can be tolerated in a debate, there must also be “clear limits on hatred and incitement”.
It is questionable where the AfD draws its own boundaries.
Or whether she even knows any.
Despite the demonstrations, Höcke & Co. appear to be appearing from a position of strength - thanks to the many successes in the Sunday questions.
For months, the party has been racking up numbers that no member could have dared to dream of so quickly.
Because in many eyes the AfD is nothing more than a protest party.
Last but not least, Höcke's disgusting framing could now ensure that more and more people gain a clearer view of what the party really stands for.
(mg)