Hundreds Protest AfD Regional Party Congress in Taufkirchen
Taufkirchen, July 11 – More than 300 individuals gathered on Saturday morning in Taufkirchen, a municipality near Munich, to protest against the regional party congress of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The protest was organized by the local chapters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, drawing a broad coalition of community members concerned about the AfD’s policies.
Naciye Oezsu, an SPD representative, emphasized, “This is our Taufkirchen.” She stated that a person’s origin is less important than “where their heart is.” Bernhard Lohr reported from the scene.
Concerns Over Societal Division and Democratic Values
Michael Schaub, chairman of the SV-DJK Taufkirchen, articulated a central concern of the protesters, stating, “The AfD ignores that Germany is not blond and white.” He further accused the party of dividing society and attempting to undermine democracy and peace.
Taufkirchen, located just a few kilometers south of Munich’s city limits, has frequently been a venue for AfD events, consistently leading to counter-protests in the town center. This latest demonstration featured a diverse array of speakers.
Voices from the Community Against AfD Policies
Naciye Özsu, the SPD chairwoman, shared her personal perspective as a woman with a migration background, asserting that she would not be driven from her home. She condemned the AfD’s calls for remigration as inhumane, declaring, “I am not going anywhere voluntarily.” Her remarks, delivered by a woman who garnered over 40 percent of the vote as a mayoral candidate in the area, were met with enthusiastic applause.
David Grothe, the Green Party’s faction leader in the municipal council, expressed his admiration for Germany, specifically for its Basic Law, which he described as one of the best constitutions globally. He highlighted the constitutional principle that human dignity is inviolable for all people. Kurt Bortel, chairman of the parish council for the St. Johannes der Täufer and St. Georg parish association, affirmed the church’s opposition to any attempts to disrupt social cohesion, inviting everyone to participate in a culture of respect.
AfD Delegates Arrive Amidst Protests
While protesters listened to speeches and enjoyed music from the band “Buck Rogers and the Sidetrackers,” AfD delegates for Upper Bavaria arrived at the Culture and Congress Center across the street. Police maintained a visible presence, with six patrol cars stationed on the road. One delegate quipped, “The nice thing is, where the police are, there’s the AfD, so I can’t get lost.”
The atmosphere at the congress center entrance was charged. Officers asked a young man wearing a pink “Free Palestine” T-shirt to identify himself. After questioning the legal basis for the request, he was taken aside amidst protests. A cyclist stopped at the AfD stand, criticizing the police for protecting “left-wing extremists” and encouraging the AfD to continue their work and “completely turn the country upside down.”
AfD’s Presence in Munich’s Surroundings
Some AfD members in Munich and Upper Bavaria are keen to implement significant changes. Martin Sellner, a prominent figure among right-wing extremists known for advocating “remigration,” was a guest of AfD state parliament member Rene Dierkes in Munich’s Perlach district and was photographed with Christoph Rätscher, who recently joined the Haar municipal council near Munich. Rätscher is an assessor on the district board, as is Christina Specht, the AfD district chairwoman in Munich-Land.
Andreas Winhart, deputy district chief and state parliament member, indicated that not much political action was expected at the party congress. Chairman Wolfgang Wiehle is stepping down due to commitments at the state board level, with current deputy Oskar Lipp expected to succeed him.
Winhart stated that the AfD favors Taufkirchen due to its central location. When asked how an anti-immigrant agenda aligns with a university community where young people from around the world study aerospace, Winhart countered that the party is not xenophobic. “We would like an immigration policy like Japan and Canada,” he said, adding that anyone who benefits and advances Germany is welcome.
Concerns for Democracy and Societal Cohesion
However, many of the protesters, who cheered the speakers, did not accept this perspective, accusing the AfD of pursuing inhumane policies. Many expressed fears that the wedge of division is being driven deeper into society. Susanne Schulze, for example, attended the protest out of concern for the future of democracy. Having lived in the former German Democratic Republic, she stated, “I experienced dictatorship.” She fears that freedom of speech and assembly would be jeopardized if right-wing extremists came to power. Uli Schwalbe expressed concern that AfD slogans are “gradually seeping into the middle of society” and gaining traction. He wished for an even larger turnout of counter-demonstrators.
For a long time, the AfD struggled to gain a foothold in the Munich surrounding area, but this has changed. The party now holds seats on city and municipal councils, and even extremists like Uwe Görler, known for radical rhetoric, hold mandates and influence decisions. Green Party faction leader Grothe recounted a recent decision by the municipal council’s social committee in Taufkirchen to fund language courses for kindergarten children. Only AfD municipal council member Görler voted against it. “What does the AfD man have against it? They are for children not being integrated.” He concluded that ultimately, they only want people to be deported.
