![]() ![]() Those who know only half the truth cannot form a picture of reality. However, the basic prerequisite for the functioning of this system is that the voters can freely form their convictions before the election. And in a representative democracy, such as we have in the Federal Republic, they rule via elected representatives. We need a government that is guided by values, not just by power and influence.Īnd we need courts that pass judgements which are beyond any doubt of political influence.ĭemocracy means that the people rule. We need a strong parliament in which every member has a free mandate, not only in theory but also in practice. Three powers that are independent of each other. Even the slightest suspicion must set alarm bells ringing. That is why we must treat this precious commodity with the utmost care. “If law is no longer the regulating factor, but power alone points the way, then everyone should be on the alert. The opening speech I wrote at that time still reflects my principles and convictions today: At that time, we were particularly proud that we had succeeded in winning Michael Gorbachev as a speaker for one of our major events. ![]() Therefore, together with other students, I founded the group “Students for the Rule of Law”. I was outraged by the breaches of law committed by the Kohl government against those who were politically persecuted in the Soviet Zone between 19. This was followed by my legal clerkship in Potsdam and then my work as a lawyer in the field of insolvency law.Įven as a student I was politically active. In 1998, in the last year of the Kohl government, I completed my studies with the 1st State Examination in Law. My focus was on competition and antitrust law as well as inheritance and family law. After an apprenticeship as a bank clerk in Hamburg, I studied law in Heidelberg and Lausanne. My parental home was characterised by Christian, middle-class and classically liberal values. Honecker led former East Germany from 1971 until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.I was born in Lübeck in 1971. "The last German politician shooting at refugees was Erich Honecker," Oppermann added. Similarly, Social Democrats parliamentary leader, Thomas Oppermann, said Petry's proposal was reminiscent of the firing order in the GDR." "We have already seen that over the course of German history, and we don't ever want to go down that road again," he added. "Whoever wants to deploy such methods clearly wants to suspend the rule of law," said Jörg Radek, head of the police union GdP. More than one million refugees arrived in Germany in 2015 Image: Reuters/F. Many critics were also quick to warn against repeating mistakes in the country's history, referring back to the time when the Nazis came to power on a xenophobic platform. "It's statements like these that poison the social climate in Germany and reveal the AfD's radical ideas," Straubinger added. Speaking in Berlin, Bundestag chairman to the Christian Social Union (CSU), Max Straubinger, said the AfD had "shown its true colors." The Social Democrat (SPD) leader said there were "huge doubts" that the AfD stood for the democratic principles Germany was founded on. In Germany, Gabriel said, there used to be a clear rule: "We do not help parties that oppose the free democratic basic law of our country to spread their propaganda." Petry's partner and AFD regional chairman in North Rhine-Westphalia, Marcus Pretzell, also said he wouldn't rule out the use of firearms as a last resort to prevent illegal immigration.Ī backlash of criticism against the AfD ensued, with German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel calling for the party to be put under surveillance by intelligence services. AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch supports using firearms against illegal refugees Image: picture alliance/dpa/J. "We need comprehensive controls to prevent so many unregistered asylum seekers from crossing the border," Petry told the German newspaper. The issue first arose in an interview with AfD leader Frauke Petry in the "Mannheimer Morgen" newspaper, in which she said German border guards "must prevent illegal border crossings and even use firearms if necessary." "The use of weapons against them can therefore be permitted," she wrote "within the narrow legal framework." "The use of firearms against children is not permitted," von Storch said, before adding that "women are a different matter." When she was asked on her Facebook page on Saturday whether German border guards should use weapons against illegal female refugees with children, she answered with a clear "yes."īut in the face of outrage across the political spectrum she decided to water down her comments: The idea was echoed by her deputy Beatrix von Storch. Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Frauke Petry triggered outrage last week by suggesting police should have the right to shoot illegal migrants at the border "if necessary." ![]()
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