The first few months of this year have been marked by turbulent events. As a political foundation, we are following the policies of the federal government and the left-wing spectrum of opinion with interest and, as committed democrats, now also with considerable concern. Together with many actors it lavishly finances, this federal government is unscrupulously and quite publicly doing everything in its power to massively damage, even destroy, the AfD, with which we are affiliated, through smear campaigns.
She won't succeed!
The permanent refusal to grant us, as a political foundation of a party represented in the Bundestag, the funding to which we have long been entitled falls into the same category. The ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court was clear and proved us right. However, we will not simply accept this permanent refusal to grant us funding. If necessary, we will take our case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights. First, both the AfD and we as a foundation will take legal action against the new Foundation Financing Act – which should more accurately be called the DES Prevention Act – at the Federal Constitutional Court.
I am concerned to see that our country is undergoing fundamental changes. It is clear that this policy is being pursued ruthlessly at the expense of damaging our economic and cultural foundations and our peaceful coexistence. Indeed, it is even being pursued at the expense of destroying our democracy.
In their joint work „How Democracies Die“, Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt have identified the „key indicators of authoritarian behaviour“:
1. the willingness to curtail the rights of the opposition
2. rhetoric that declares opposition forces to be enemies of the state
3. Attempts to exclude the opposition from full participation in political life
4. Broadly defined defamation laws
The „guard rails of democracy“, as the two authors diagnose this treatment of opposition forces, have long since been broken down in Germany. All four of these criteria for the destruction of democracy now exist in Germany.
There has never been a comparable violation of the Basic Law and our inalienable human rights by the state itself in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. This federal government has laid the axe to the roots of our constitutional state. In full view of everyone. Everyone can see it, everyone can hear it.
No one should say later that they did not know about it!
As a political foundation, we will not be intimidated by this, but will use all means at our disposal to draw attention to these fundamental democratic deficits.
That is why, after the European elections (until then, as a political foundation, we are not permitted to hold political events), our Desiderius Erasmus Foundation will focus intensively on the topic of „democratic deficits“ in our programme of activities.
I wish you and all of us strength and, despite all political adversities, optimism in our joint commitment to our country, our democracy, our cultural heritage and a bright future.
Our beautiful country deserves our commitment.
It is particularly important to me to thank everyone who contributes to ensuring that we are financially able to hold seminars and lectures and provide information. Without you, this would not be possible.
I wish you all a blessed Easter holiday and look forward to further friendly encounters.
With warm regards
Yours
Erika Steinbach
Donation account:
Desiderius Erasmus Stiftung e.V.
Sparkasse zu Lübeck
DE77 2305 0101 0160 4388 67
BIC: NOLADE21SPL
(Recognised as a non-profit organisation)
