As of: February 2, 2024, 4:43 p.m
By: Dirk Walter
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Theo Waigel, CSU honorary chairman, calls on the Union to resist right-wing extremism.
(Archive image) © FOTOPRESS THOMAS SEHR
Theo Waigel calls on his party colleagues to take part in demonstrations.
The CSU veteran finds clear words about AfD politician Björn Höcke.
Munich - The CSU honorary chairman Theo Waigel calls on Union politicians to take part in the demos against the right.
“Some of my children were there, my wife was there.
I'm 84. But the next time there's an anti-right demonstration in the Allgäu, I'll go there too.
And I strongly advise the CDU/CSU parties to take part,” Waigel told the “Münchner Merkur”.
“We cannot leave this issue to the left.
“The defense of democracy is not just an issue for social democracy and the Greens,” said Waigel.
Rather, it is “an issue of the center, and the center is supported primarily by the CDU/CSU.” He also thinks it is important “that all parties tackle a democracy project on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Basic Law.
“It is important to defend democracy against forces not only from the right, but also from the left.”
Theo Waigel talks about the AfD ban and Björn Höcke
Waigel is skeptical about the chances of success for banning the AfD.
“I don’t rule out the possibility of a ban on the AfD.
But the material that is available must be watertight.” He called for the withdrawal of fundamental rights for certain AfD politicians to be examined and for this to be enforced via Article 18 of the Basic Law.
This was also what civil rights activists from the internet platform Campact called for, who handed over 1.7 million signatures to Green Party leader Britta Haßelmann and other MPs on Thursday.
“Anyone who abuses the freedoms permitted by our constitution forfeits fundamental rights,” says Waigel.
The secret AfD leader Björn Höcke is “just an example” of this.
When “the Bavarian AfD parliamentary group leader says she will put all unpopular politicians on trial – I would probably be there too – then I ask myself: Is this a tribunal and the preliminary stage to liquidation?” He advocates “the agitation, that "To take a closer look at the writings, the propaganda of certain AfD leading figures and, if necessary, to initiate ban proceedings against these people in accordance with Article 18."
(Dirk Walter)