OpinionAfD incites hatred against universities: Attack on academic freedom:

Members of other parliamentary groups could bring me into office by abstaining—but then make me fail on important proposals. And that would also jeopardize the AfD’s success nationwide. We have a historic opportunity now, and I can’t put it at risk for the sake of a position. That’s why I have to weigh my options.

— Ulrich Siegmund explained to the Magdeburger Volksstimme why he is keeping his options open in the minister-president election.

We see civilian patrols, and we see police work being guided by the party’s priorities rather than the needs of the people.

— Jochen Kopelke, chairman of the German Police Union, said this while warning about the possible consequences of an AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt.

For Jews, the question is whether they can still live safely here, whether Germany really is their home.

— Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger this while discussing the possible consequences of the AfD or the Left Party taking power.

“Demanding such a declaration shows an absurd understanding of democracy; it makes a mockery of our values and tramples on the rights of members of parliament. This is wholly unacceptable. We need a change of personnel at the top so we can clear our heads and become fully capable of acting again.”— Alexander Räuscher, a former CDU member of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt, criticized the demand for a sworn declaration in comments to WELT and called for a change of leadership in the parliamentary group.