In an alarming series of events, the left-wing German government has escalated its efforts to dismantle its conservative opposition through a multifaceted approach that includes state-sponsored violence, legal persecution, and media suppression. The latest targets have been the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, their voters, and the conservative media outlet Compact, signaling a coordinated attempt to stifle dissent and eradicate opposition.
Media Suppression: Shutting Down Conservative Voices
In a move that has raised major concerns about the state of press freedom in Germany, the country’s largest alternative media outlet, Compact, has been banned on direct orders from the red-green coalition government. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, known for her connections to the extreme, and often violent left, made this announcement as she continues to push her agenda against what she terms “far-right” influences.
Compact, a monthly publication founded in 2010 by journalist Jürgen Elsässer, boasts a circulation of around 40,000 copies and a significant online presence. Its YouTube channel has garnered hundreds of thousands of followers, and its documentary on the Nord Stream attack has been viewed over a million times, highlighting its substantial reach and influence.
Elsässer, who previously held prominent positions at left-wing newspapers Junge Welt and Konkret, has shifted his focus to Compact, which has become known as an unofficial mouthpiece for Germany’s only conservative party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD). This alignment has made it a target for the current government, particularly after the AfD’s notable gains in the recent EU elections, which came at the expense of the red-green parties.
Government Crackdown on Free Press
The left-wing German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, publicly announced the ban on the social media platform X. “Today I banned the far-right Compact magazine,” she declared, adding that the ban was intended as a “hard blow to the far-right environment.” Faeser accused Compact of “agitating in an unspeakable way against Jews, against Muslims, and against our democracy.” These allegations are baseless; Compact has maintained editorial integrity while sharply criticizing those in power.
The AfD is the only classical liberal party in Germany, advocating for maximal individual rights and minimal state interference, which is the essence of a republican-style government. They are the only party that supports the State of Israel, which means supporting the Jewish people, just as supporting the state of Ireland means supporting the Irish people. A former head of Israel’s Mossad categorically endorsed the AfD, wishing other parties had such rational policies. Below is a video endorsement from around 2019.
Compact has been vocal against policies such as Angela Merkel’s open borders stance in 2015 when she flooded her country with over a million migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Despite its controversial positions, the publication has provided a platform for various perspectives, contributing to its reputation as a critical voice against the establishment.
