Constitutional protection officer Kramer warns that the demonstrations by lateral thinkers in 2020 and 2021 “were a child’s birthday compared to the coming autumn and winter”. (Photo: archive image from November 2021)
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The President of the Thuringian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer, has warned of the effects on internal security in Germany in view of the current accumulation of crises.
“We can solve all problems somehow, I’m convinced of that,” Kramer told Handelsblatt. “But if the population’s trust in the political leadership, democracy and our state erodes further or collapses, I don’t want to imagine that – yet.”
In this context, Kramer described it as “realistic” that the demonstrations of the lateral thinkers in 2020 and 2021 “were a child’s birthday party compared to the coming autumn and winter”. It was “neither serious nor helpful to conjure up horror scenarios every 24 hours or to spread fear,” he added.
“Nevertheless, it is precisely the task of the security authorities to first inform those responsible in politics and then finally the public appropriately about their assessments and not to hide worst-case scenarios, even if they could alarm the population.”
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The protection of the constitution sees the consequences of a gas emergency as a risk for the security situation and thus not only a lack of gas for heating, but also the partial collapse of industrial production and thus unemployment rising “dramatically”.
“The AfD is at the forefront”
Because of the new uncertainties about Russian gas supplies, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) also warned against radical protests at the weekend. “Of course there is a risk that those who already yelled out their contempt for democracy during the Corona period and were often traveling side by side with right-wing extremists will try to misuse the sharply rising prices as a new mobilization topic,” Faeser told the Handelsblatt.
>> Read also: Interior Minister warns against radical protests because of high energy prices
The background to the discussion is the uncertain supply of Germany and Europe with Russian natural gas as an indirect consequence of the Ukraine war. Since last Monday, no gas has flowed through the most important pipeline, Nord Stream 1.
Gas transport was suspended for annual maintenance work on the pipeline’s compressor stations. According to the operating company, this work should last until this Thursday. In Germany there is concern that the pipeline will not be put back into operation and that gas will be scarce in winter.
Against this background, Kramer pointed out that both foreign and domestic forces are currently trying to “further fuel the uncertainty and fear in our population and convert it into voices and mood”. The AfD is here “at the forefront”.
“In this way, the initial solidarity with the Ukraine refugees is already falling noticeably in entire regions.” Some argue that there is money for Ukraine, but not for the needs of its own people.
Kramer is also critical of the consequences of a possible new corona wave in autumn. “Upcoming hygiene measures and a possible lockdown are increasingly encountering less understanding and open rejection among large parts of the population,” he said.
“It doesn’t help if it is now promised to calm down that there will be no more school closures or lockdowns.” That is “dubious and increases mistrust among the population”.
More: Freeze against Putin? What the economy and citizens have to prepare for in the event of a gas emergency