Union disagreement: police unionists argue about AfD

A dispute has erupted within Germany's police union over remarks made by Sven Hüber, deputy federal chairman of the Police Union (GdP), regarding the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Hüber sparked controversy with an article published in the union’s internal magazine titled Richtig Nein sagen (Say No Correctly), in which he warned against the possibility of the AfD taking control of an interior ministry. He described the situation as an “elephant in the room” and concluded that police officers who take their oath seriously must refuse to support the party. According to Hüber, members of the police force cannot vote for, support, or participate in a party that is unconstitutional. The criticism of Hüber’s statements has been growing, particularly among several regional branches of the GdP, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, and Baden-Württemberg. The North Rhine-Westphalian branch explicitly distanced itself from Hüber’s language, comparisons, and legal conclusions, stating that the service oath does not strip police officers of their right to vote. They added that while a “no-go” with the AfD could be a legitimate position for the union, it is not a legal consequence of the service oath. The GdP branch in Saxony-Anhalt similarly rejected Hüber’s views, clarifying in a Facebook post that his article did not reflect the stance of the union in their region. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, GdP state president Eycke Körner stated that Hüber’s comments represented an individual opinion rather than the official position of the union. He emphasized that the distancing was not a personal attack on Hüber, but noted that the topic raised by Hüber should not be ignored. Körner also pointed out that Saxony-Anhalt might become the first German state where an AfD politician takes over the interior ministry after the state election on September 6, but he refrained from commenting further on future scenarios, emphasizing that the electorate would decide. Körner stressed that the principle of the Basic Law being above all else remained clear, and that the rights and duties of civil servants were well known to the union’s membership. Similarly, the Bavarian section of the GdP stated via an Instagram post that Hüber’s statements did not represent the union’s view and went beyond the intended scope. The union emphasized its focus on fair pay, better working conditions, solid legal foundations, and maximum protection and respect for police officers. Professor Markus Thiel of the German Police University in Münster explained that the service oath itself does not impose additional consequences. He noted that the obligations of civil servants derive directly from the constitution and civil servant law, and that the oath merely reinforces these responsibilities personally. Whether police officers who sympathize with or even vote for the AfD violate civil service laws depends on specific cases. As long as the AfD is not banned, neither sympathy nor voting for the party can be considered a general violation of duty, according to Thiel. He also questioned whether voting for the AfD could serve as evidence of a civil servant’s unconstitutional attitude, noting differences among regional unions and the confidentiality of voting. It is practically impossible to determine which party a civil servant voted for, making such assessments difficult. Separately, Miriam Alexandra Tański, a self-proclaimed “teenage Nazi” and former candidate for the AfD in Oldenburg, has left the party following reports of her racist and antisemitic posts online. According to the AfD district spokesperson Andreas Paul, Tański resigned from the party on August 11 after discussions revealed that her social media content conflicted with the party’s values. However, she will still appear on the AfD list for the city council election, despite her resignation. Tański has stated she will not accept a potential seat on the city council. Paul claimed that Tański’s return to the party is unlikely, adding that she held no other positions within the party. When asked about whether Tański visited the Bundestag with Paul’s invitation, Paul refused to answer. Tański posted a photo on June 9 showing a sticker shaped like a stylized eight-pointed wheel under the German eagle, a symbol reminiscent of the Nazi regime. She also responded to a post suggesting a five-armed swastika with “25% more hate,” saying, “We already have the arrow wheel. With 100% more hate.” Felix Wolf, another AfD candidate in Oldenburg, has expressed support for ideas that could be considered extreme. In a deleted podcast, he endorsed the claim that not all SS members were criminals, and suggested a demographic reclamation and Germanization of the population through marriage and forced migration. Paul declined to comment on whether these views align with the AfD’s values. Wolf also responded to a post by EU Parliament member Tomasz Froelich, accusing Israel of benefiting from illegal crossings in Ceuta, by comparing the analysis to a precision rifle. He mocked pianist Igor Levit, a German citizen, for his appearance, referencing antisemitic conspiracy theories. His comments have drawn attention due to their potentially offensive nature.