In a turbulent debate, the Brandenburg state parliament discussed an amendment to the state constitution on Wednesday.

The fight against anti-Semitism is to be enshrined as a state goal.

The parliamentary groups in the coalition of SPD, CDU and Greens, supported by the Left, are applying for this.

Together they have a two-thirds majority.

Markus Wehner

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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    In addition, it should be stipulated that Jewish life in Brandenburg is promoted. The goal of deepening friendship with Poland should also be given constitutional status. In addition, gender-equitable language is to be introduced.

    At the same time, the provisions on the appointment of the Presidency of the State Parliament are to be changed in such a way that the largest opposition party no longer receives the post of Vice President in any case. The AfD has been the largest opposition party in the state parliament in Potsdam since 2019. The AfD MP Andreas Galau, a former police officer, was elected to the post of Vice President. He has been criticized, among other things, for having met with anti-Semites. The parliamentary manager of the AfD parliamentary group, Denis Hohloch, accused the other parliamentary groups of abuse. They just wanted to change the constitution to get rid of the AfD's vice president. "That's shabby," said Hohloch.

    The CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann referred to the high number of anti-Semitic crimes in Brandenburg.

    “We want to live in a country where every Jew can take to the streets with a kippah,” said Redmann.

    Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) said the increase in anti-Semitic crimes must meet with resistance.

    The AfD, however, spoke of a “placebo proposal”.

    Hohloch denied that almost all anti-Semitic crimes were committed by right-wing extremists.

    The other factions abused "the suffering of the Jews for their struggle against the law".

    According to the Brandenburg police, 147 anti-Semitic crimes were registered last year, 48 more than in 2019. Left parliamentary group leader Sebastian Walter said that only three of these crimes were not part of the right-wing extremist spectrum. The state parliament will probably decide on the constitutional amendments in a roll call vote in November.