Rising attacks on journalists in Germany - is free media at risk if AfD takes power?

Growing threats to journalists 

There have been 25 intimidation attempts in three weeks of the AfD election campaign in Saxony-Anhalt, reports German Journalists' Union (dju). The incidents involved defamation, targeted obstruction of work, stalking, and physical attacks. 

5 attacks against journalists in Germany were reported last year by Reporters Without Boarders (RSF), an independent media freedom organization. The incidents that dju documented during the election campaign "should be understood alongside the broader pattern of attacks and attempts to delegitimise independent reporting," says Christofer Rech, media relations officer of RSF. 

AfD plans to terminate public broadcasting 

 AfD describes Germany's public broadcasting system as inefficient and politically biased.  Therefore, the party is planning to "(...) terminate the interstate broadcasting treaties, thereby initiating the beginning of the end for state broadcasting funded by compulsory fees", as stated in its political programme. Germany’s public broadcasters are regulated through agreements between federal states and funded by mandatory contribution paid by households.  

"This goes beyond legitimate criticism and threatens an essential infrastructure for independent and diverse information and a key pillar of democratic public life," explains Rech. 

What does the future hold for free media in Germany? 

In the election held in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6th, AfD got 43.8 percent of the votes, strongly outperforming the other parties. However, the party did not get outright majority, meaning they will have to form a coalition with other parties to govern. 

"Saxony-Anhalt could become a crucial test of whether political actors can weaken the foundations of Germany’s pluralistic and independent media system at state level," warns the representative of RSF.  

RSF cautions that the consequences of the election could go beyond Saxon-Anhalt.

"If public-service media, private outlets and non-commercial local media can be systematically delegitimised or their legal and financial foundations undermined, this could set a precedent for press and information freedom across Germany," emphasises Rech.