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Landhaus Adlon: Right-wing extremists and AfD politicians met here to discuss radical deportation plans

Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is reminded of the National Socialists' Wannsee Conference by the recently announced meeting of right-wing extremists in Potsdam.

“This involuntarily brings back memories of the terrible Wannsee conference,” said the SPD politician to the Funke media group.

She doesn't want to equate the two.

"But what is hidden behind harmless-sounding terms like "remigration" is the idea of ​​expelling and deporting people en masse because of their ethnic origin or their political views."

Suggestions for “remigration”

Faeser was referring to reports from the media company Correctiv about a meeting of right-wing radicals on November 25th in Potsdam, in which several AfD politicians as well as individual members of the CDU and the very conservative “Values ​​Union” took part.

The former head of the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement in Austria, Martin Sellner, said he spoke about “remigration” there.

When right-wing extremists use this term, they usually mean that large numbers of people of foreign origin should leave the country - even under duress.

At the Wannsee Conference in 1942, the Nazis made plans to exterminate Europe's Jewish population.

Lots of demos on the weekend

Faeser is skeptical about banning proceedings against the AfD.

"Our constitution rightly provides for this strongest instrument of defensive democracy as the last resort." There are very high hurdles.

Given the circumstances, no one can rule this out.

However, this is not a means in the political debate.

"If people turn to such a party, we have to ensure that these people come back to the democratic parties."

In recent days, tens of thousands have taken a stand against the AfD and against racism at demonstrations in numerous German cities.

A total of around 90 rallies have been registered for this weekend in large and small cities, according to a list on the “Together Against the Right” portal.

In Munich alone, more than 200 organizations are calling for a large demonstration on Sunday.

  • You can find an overview of when and where protests are planned today here: Where there will be demonstrations against the right this weekend

hen/dpa