German parliament denies security credentials to far-right AfD employees

BERLIN

Germany's parliament has denied security credentials to at least four employees of the far-right AfD party due to security concerns, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

In a statement, the parliament's administration said that the Bundestag has denied the issuance of access passes and authorization to IT systems for several staff members of lawmakers.

“For all rejected applicants, it appeared possible that access to parliament premises with a building pass could be misused for anti-constitutional purposes,” the administration said.

“There are actual and concrete indications that the pursuit of anti-constitutional activities could impair the functionality and workability of the Bundestag and the security of lawmakers,” it added.

An AfD parliamentary group spokesperson confirmed to the German newspaper ZEIT that three staff members of AfD lawmakers were denied new access passes, while a fourth had their IT access authorization revoked.

Former AfD lawmaker Birgit Malsack-Winkemann was arrested in 2022, along with other members of a far-right group, for planning sensational attacks to create nationwide chaos, kidnap politicians, and storm the German parliament to seize power. Several ex-military officers and former police officers were among the members of the group, which called itself "Patriotic Union."

BERLIN

Germany's parliament has denied security credentials to at least four employees of the far-right AfD party due to security concerns, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

In a statement, the parliament's administration said that the Bundestag has denied the issuance of access passes and authorization to IT systems for several staff members of lawmakers.

“For all rejected applicants, it appeared possible that access to parliament premises with a building pass could be misused for anti-constitutional purposes,” the administration said.