Less than two weeks before German state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Berlin have issued a warning about the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
In a brochure published Tuesday, the AfD is described as an “right-wing extremist” and “anti-Western” party with a “blatantly anti-Semitic ideology.”
The document lists examples, statements and actions by individuals within the AfD to substantiate these claims. It also addresses derogatory remarks from the party regarding Germany’s culture of remembrance, particularly about the Holocaust.
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews, said that while the AfD may not be inherently anti-Semitic it caters to anti-Semites.
Speaking at a joint press conference on Tuesday with the AJC in Berlin, Schuster criticized the party’s ethno-nationalist ideologies.
The brochure states that the party maintains a “tactical relationship with anti-Semitism” highlighting “imported anti-Semitism” from Muslim-majority countries while ignoring anti-Semitic sentiments within German society.
Schuster expressed concern that the primary threat to Jewish life in Germany still comes from the political right.
Regarding the ongoing discussions about banning the AfD, Schuster voiced scepticism. He fears that a ban might backfire, potentially elevating the AfD’s prominence and making the situation worse.
He had previously said in an interview with SWR radio: “I think it must be possible to use political means to stop such a party before it is too late – ultimately even without a party ban procedure.”
The AfD, whose strongly anti-migration policies are rejected by the established parties in Germany, is predicted to make big gains in the September 1 state elections in Saxony and Thuringia.
