The AfD Demands the Resignation of Bavarian Premier Söder After Suspected Munich Terrorist Attack
Following the alleged terrorist attack in downtown Munich that left numerous people injured, the Bavarian AfD is calling for the resignation of Bavarian Premier Markus Söder (CSU). According to Katrin Ebner-Steiner, the parliamentary group leader, Söder "bears political responsibility for this terrorist attack." Together with Stephan Protschka, the AfD state chairman, she demanded Söder’s resignation "because he is not able to guarantee our security." Protschka also called for the resignation of Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU).
On the morning of the incident, a young Afghan drove his car into a protest march in the city center, injuring at least 28 people, some of them seriously. According to Herrmann, the man was a rejected asylum seeker. However, "it was determined that he could not be deported at the moment and therefore was allowed to remain in our country."
Ebner-Steiner added: "Furthermore, I demand that all those who are required to leave be taken into deportation detention." She did not specify how this would be achieved. In reality, the demand is hardly feasible: At the turn of the year, more than 25,000 foreigners who were required to leave were in Bavaria alone, as the Ministry of the Interior had recently reported in response to a parliamentary question from Ebner-Steiner.
Political Responses and Criticism
Söder strongly condemned the attack and expressed his sympathy for the victims. He also praised the actions of the security forces, who had quickly apprehended the suspect. However, he rejected the AfD’s demands for his resignation, calling them "politically motivated opportunism."
Herrmann also defended his record as interior minister, emphasizing the challenges of combating terrorism and the need for a balanced approach that respects civil liberties. He criticized the AfD’s rhetoric, which he said only served to polarize society.
The opposition parties in the Bavarian parliament also condemned the attack and expressed their support for the security forces. However, they also raised concerns about the AfD’s response, warning against fueling fear and division.
Legal and Practical Challenges
The demand to detain all foreign nationals required to leave in deportation detention raises significant legal and practical challenges. The German constitution guarantees the right to asylum and prohibits indefinite detention without charge. Furthermore, the capacity of the German detention system is already stretched, and it would be extremely costly to expand it to accommodate the tens of thousands of people who would be affected by such a measure.
Wider Context and Implications
The attack in Munich has reignited the debate about immigration and security in Germany. The AfD, a far-right party that has consistently sought to exploit public fears about these issues, is likely to use the incident to its advantage in the upcoming Bavarian state elections. However, the mainstream parties have generally rejected the AfD’s calls for stricter immigration controls and deportations, arguing that these measures would be ineffective and counterproductive.
The attack also highlights the ongoing challenges of preventing and responding to terrorist threats. While the German security forces have generally been successful in thwarting major attacks, the threat remains real, and it is clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of extremism and radicalization.
