The new democracy is, it seems, about preventing the people from being able to choose what they want (and should not) by the simple procedure of “legally” suppressing the opponent with “wrong” ideas. We are seeing it with the absurd judicial harassment of Donald Trump in the United States, we are seeing it in Brazil against Jair Bolsonaro and, of course, we are seeing it in Germany against the sovereigntists of Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that is soaring in voting intentions.
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor General’s Office is considering charging opposition party politicians with “high treason” for their attendance at a “secret” meeting in Potsdam, where participants allegedly discussed a plan to deport foreigners.
According to the German publication Junge Freiheit, the investigation is based on a criminal complaint filed by a private individual who accused the participants of the meeting of high treason under Section 81 of the German Criminal Code. If convicted of such a crime, individuals can serve a minimum of 10 years in prison if a prosecutor can prove that the individual “endangered the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany” or wanted to abolish “the constitutional order” through the use or threat of violence.
So far, Germany’s top prosecutors are exploring the possibility of charging the AfD politicians present with treason, and no charges have yet been brought.
However, AfD has taken legal action against the state-run NGO Correctiv, which was the first to produce the report. AfD MP Gerrit Huy accuses the publication of illegally distributing secret audio and video recordings of her. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla also accused the NGO of “Stasi tactics” for sending an undercover agent to the meeting, taking clandestine photographs of participants and using other questionable tactics. The AfD fears that Correctiv was supported by the intelligence services.
