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AfD criticism of the Paulikloster: Protests against the election campaign in the church!
The AfD criticizes churches in the election campaign, while the church district distances itself from right-wing extremist views. Protests follow.
AfD criticism of the Paulikloster: Protests against the election campaign in the church!
In Brandenburg an der Havel, the AfD caused a stir with sharp attacks on the churches during the mayoral election campaign. At an event in the historic Paulikloster, a former church, AfD state chairman René Springer criticized the church and described it as “morally bankrupt.” This happened amid protests against the party's right-wing extremist orientation, which is classified as such by the state Office for the Protection of the Constitution Uckermark courier reported.
The occasion for the AfD's appearance caused quite an uproar in the city. The Protestant Church took a clear stance against the use of the Paulik Monastery for political purposes. She warned against the violation of human dignity and made it clear that the indivisible dignity of all people was the top priority. In a statement from the Mittelmark-Brandenburg Evangelical Church District it is said that the place should remain committed to the gospel and reconciliation. The parishes vehemently distanced themselves from the AfD event and emphasized that right-wing extremist positions cannot be accepted at the Paulikloster because they violate the dignity of people, they said Evangelical Church.
Political tensions and public reactions
Before the event, numerous people gathered to protest against the AfD. The city administration had no influence on the appointment at the Paulikloster, as it is a public institution. The AfD parliamentary group leader, Hans-Christoph Berndt, even went so far as to attack the church for its services for the queer community and its handling of the corona pandemic. He claimed that the “official churches” had renounced God.
Amid this political turmoil, voters are being asked to decide who will lead the city in the future. The candidates for election are Axel Brösicke from the AfD, the incumbent mayor Steffen Scheller from the CDU, Daniel Keip from the SPD as well as several individual candidates and a candidate from the voter group “The Independent!”. Brösicke also criticized the “disproportionate spread” of barbershops and kebab shops in the city center and called for shop openings to be regulated.
A look back at the social mood
Social cohesion and keeping up with political reality are also reasons for many people to mobilize. In the last two weeks, several events against right-wing extremism took place in the Rheinhessen/Nahe region, involving thousands of people. In particular, the revelations about a secret meeting of radical right-wingers, which AfD members also took part in, caused additional mobilization, reports the SWR.