AfD members in school service: Is there a threat to the end of teaching jobs?

AfD members in school service: Is there a threat to the end of teaching jobs?

In a comprehensive report that runs to over 1,000 pages, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution accused the AfD of anti-constitutional actions. This raises new questions about the future of the party and its members in public service. In Rhineland-Palatinate there are views that prospective civil servants should be more closely checked for their loyalty to the constitution. This could also have an impact on AfD members who are already in public service, who may have to reckon with legal consequences. An oath of service that includes loyalty to the Basic Law and the state constitution could contradict membership in the AfD, which further fuels the discussion about the civil service of members of the party.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has classified the AfD as firmly right-wing extremist, which has intensified public debates about the compatibility of party affiliation and loyalty to the constitution among public servants. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) noted that AfD membership alone cannot be seen as a reason for legal consequences. When checking the constitutionality of civil servants, an individual case examination is therefore necessary.

Verification of civil servants and loyalty to the constitution

The situation is also being discussed in other federal states such as Hesse and Bavaria, which are also investigating whether AfD members can be employed in the civil service. In general, civil servants must observe the duty of loyalty to the free democratic basic order, but they are not obliged to disclose their party membership unless they are subject to security checks.

During the recruitment process, prospective civil servants' loyalty to the constitution is carefully checked. Membership in the AfD does not rule out becoming a civil servant, but applicants with this membership could find themselves at a severe disadvantage. Employers have the option of not employing applicants who are members of an organization that is classified as extremist.

Possible consequences for AfD members

If there are doubts about an official's adherence to the constitution, disciplinary proceedings can be initiated. Removal from service is considered the last resort and involves high hurdles. For AfD members who work in the public sector, this could mean that they face censure or a reduction in their salaries.

The tensions surrounding the AfD and its members continue to intensify, as Rhineland-Palatinate's plans to examine prospective civil servants more closely show that the issue of loyalty to the constitution is very politically explosive. A possible ban on a party would only have to be decided by the Federal Constitutional Court, and the specific consequences for former members remain unclear, while the obligation to adhere to the constitution also applies to public sector employees who are subject to less strict standards.

In summary, it appears that the AfD and its members are in an uncertain position when it comes to their rights and obligations in public service. The developments in the coming weeks will show what the legal framework will be for the AfD and its members.

For more details you can read the reports from Rhine newspaper and ZDF read.