Germany · de.indymedia · · 2h
Week 39: The week in which horseshoes are thrown
Deutsch (original) · Auto-translated to English
The 39th calendar week is coming to an end. We have published 11 new texts with a total of 74,705 characters. Welcome to the weekly review of network politics.
Dear readers,
We don't use platform X often anymore and never thought we'd miss it. In the days after the Berlin election last Sunday, however, the platform offered more cause for amusement, horror and even bewilderment than it had in a long time.
This is because large parts of the capital's press and politicians are still gathered there. It was impressive to observe their collective unwinding in the face of the left's electoral success. Everything was there, from fantasies about a “red dictatorship” to warnings that Hamas and Hezbollah would soon rule Berlin.
But there was also a lot going on beyondhttps://taz.de/Campaign-nach-der-Berlin-Wahl/!6215733/">Wehretthe beginnings“ now serves as the motto of a “sensible majority in the country” against the Left Party. And SPD former mayor Michael Müller was allowed to warn that his partyhttps://www.zeit.de/news/2026-09/23/spd-sets-linken-stoppsignal-antisem...thing with “anti-Semites and terrorists”.. Green leadershttps://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/mit-solchen-leuten- Werden-wir-nicht-k...also with. A country in panic mode.
Once again for the record: A democratic left-wing party managed to strike a chord with many Berliners with issues such as affordable rents and social policy and win a state election. This means that it has almost achieved an absolute majority among young voters and in some districts. In doing so, she also sent a clear signal against the successes of the AfD, which was only able to make moderate gains in Berlin.
Nevertheless, the reactions were sometimes as vehement and angry as one would have longed for two weeks earlier at the latest when the right-wing extremists won the election in Saxony-Anhalt. What's wrong?
Political instrumentalization
The aim of this campaign is quickly apparent: a left-wing party with mayor Elif Eralp in power should be prevented at all costs. The aim is also to prevent the socialization of real estate from becoming socially acceptable. Or that the AfD ban process will still be politically possible. Because with a left-wing government in Berlin, the majorities in the Federal Council would also shift.
The only perfidious thing is: for the campaignhttps://www.rbb24.de/politik/berlin-wahl-2026/beitraege/berlin-offener-b...Some media and politicians are concerned about the safety of Jews. And at the same time they narrow the anti-Semitism findings to Muslims and leftists.
But anti-Semitism can be found throughout society, in all political corners and milieus. And of course there is anti-Semitism in parts of the Left Party. They must not only clearly distance themselves from it, but also actively combat it - even if in individual cases this also has personnel consequences.
A particularly pronounced anti-Semitic sentiment among voters on the left is scientifically provenhttps://www.kas.de/documents/252038/22161843/Antisemitische+Einstellunge... https://www.tu.berlin/news/detail/importierte-antisemitismus">Studies https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/BSt/Publikationen/Gr...to prove. The opposite is the case. Of all party supporters, the AfD still has the most anti-Semites, and there are also more of them in the Union and SPD than in the Left Party.
Horseshoe throwing on steroids
Regardless, the horseshoe was thrown with full force on election night. The election reporting never tired of emphasizing that the “fringes” had won, but in between the supposedly sensible middle was either “crushed” or “ground up”. The tone that was struck subsequently permeated many other debates. Even in the Bundestag debatehttps://netzpolitik.org/2026/bundetagsdebatte-zur-geheimdienstreform-zw...the secret service reform, which we reported on this week,https://dserver.bundestag.de/btp/21/21096.pdf#P.11791">triedInterior Minister Alexander Dobrindt lumped the left with the AfD.
Horseshoes is the name of this theory, according to which left and right supposedly stand - and are - equally dangerously far from the political center. This theory is certainly not new. But what we are experiencing is a kind of horseshoe toss on steroids. The collective fantasy of such a scenario in which this left-wing party, with its demands for socialization and social security, is said to be as dangerous as a right-wing radical party that wants to deport people and abolish basic democratic principles.
It also opens the gates to a development that could soon lead us into a whole new circle of hell. Parts of the Union are already starting to cite a possible red-green-red coalition as an argument that they can now confidently tear down the AfD's firewall. True to the motto: If you form a coalition with extremists, then we can too.
Allies instead of enemies
You can feel whatever you want about the social demands of the Left Party. One can find the party unrealistic, loud and annoying and reject its goals. You can also fight them politically. But not like that.
The Left is a democratic party that has, over the past decades, campaigned for human rights, the preservation and expansion of fundamental rights and freedoms, and for an open, democratic and free society. The party is clearly against the shift to the right and for democracy. It is an important building block against right-wing extremists taking power.
But the current horseshoe throwing denigrates exactly that - and thus trivializes the danger that is currently and very acutely posed by the AfD. But anyone who is concerned with preserving democratic values and our Basic Law should not take part in such horseshoe games. It should be clear to all democrats that preserving democracy will not be possible without the Left Party - and that this party is more of an ally than an enemy.
Ask for moderation and a comparison with reality
Chris and Mark
Critical infrastructure: There is a lack of strategy when it comes to web archiving
Web archives are critical infrastructure, says historian Jens Crueger. He calls for a plan for archiving in Germany and explains what politicians should do - and what each individual can do. By Leonhard Pitz –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/kritike-entwicklung-bei-der-web-archivi...read
Bottleneck Ireland: Only 400 million fine for Google's years of violation of the law
It took almost a decade for the Irish data protection authority to come to a decision. Accordingly, Google unlawfully processed large amounts of sensitive location data of its users. The delayed procedure once again highlights the Irish enforcement problem. By Tomas Rudl –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/fensterhals-irland-nur-400-millionen-straf...read
“Security package 2.0”: Experts consider draft laws to be unconstitutional
The federal government wants to allow police authorities and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees new search options. Experts believe the powers are far too far-reaching and warned today in the Bundestag of a legal shaky game. By Chris Köver –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/sicherheitspaket-2-0-sachverstaendige-halte...read
“Digital expropriation”: Data protection advocates warn against blanket permission for AI training
In the future, corporations would be able to use Europeans’ data for AI training even more easily than before. Max Schrems and the noyb organization warn against this scenario. What is supposed to help the European economy would ultimately benefit US companies in particular. By Ingo Dachwitz –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/digitale-enteignung-datenschuetzer-warnen-v...read
Behavioral scanner pilot project in Berlin: “The possibility of anonymous use of public space is disappearing”
We are talking to Berlin's data protection officer Meike Kamp about the automated behavioral scanners that will soon be filming people continuously for no reason at several locations in Berlin. She criticizes the project, but is skeptical about mandatory controls of the new technology by her authority. From Constanze –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/pilotprojekt- Behaviorsscanner-in-berlin-di...read
Bundestag debate on secret service reform: Between shredding and improving
The secret service reform has reached the Bundestag. In an initial debate, the gap was large: While Interior Minister Dobrindt takes it for granted that German secret services should be given operational capabilities, parts of the opposition warn of dangers to democracy. By Anna Biselli –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/bundetagsdebatte-zur-geheimdienstreform-zw...read
Bundestag debates digital wallet: 100 days before the launch, criticism of “d‑you” is growing
The digital wallet is scheduled to launch in Germany at the beginning of January. But there are problems with security, data protection and the preparations in the municipalities. Opposition and consumer advocates warn of a loss of trust. By Daniel Leisegang –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/bundestag-debatiert-ueber-digitale-briefta...read
Austria: Security authorities can be spied on using advertising data
New research demonstrates the risk that location data from the online advertising industry poses to Austria's security. Thanks to data brokers, journalists were able to understand several sensitive movement profiles. While the government is stonewalling, Austrian security authorities are using such data themselves. By Ingo Dachwitz –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/oesterreich-sicherheitsbehoerden-lassen-sic...read
Creative protest: Hundreds demonstrate against the award ceremony to Peter Thiel
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Berlin against the awarding of the Axel Springer Award to the right-wing oligarch Peter Thiel - one person even at the award ceremony itself. They criticized Thiel's role in building an authoritarian society and his companies' involvement in wars. By Esther Menhard, Markus Reuter –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/kreativer-protest-hunde-demonstrieren-ge...read
German Journalist Prize for Databroker Files: “Great investigative piece with high social relevance”
Ingo Dachwitz and Sebastian Meineck were honored with the German Journalist Prize for their Databroker research. The jury praised the article as a “showpiece for data-driven journalism”. From netzpolitik.org –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/deutscher-journalistenpreis-fuer-databroker...read
Big Brother Awards: Fielmann and Apollo Optik receive “Surveillance Oscar”
The Big Brother Awards 2026 were awarded today. The winners are Fielmann and Apollo Optik, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the EU Commission and Deutsche Telekom. By Jette Scheibchen –
https://netzpolitik.org/2026/big-brother-awards-fielmann-und-apollo-opti...read
–––
The work of netzpolitik.org is financed by donations from our readers.
Become part of this unique community and support our public interest-oriented, advertising- and tracking-free journalismhttps://netzpolitik.org/spenden/?via=rss">nowwith a donation.
Read the full story at the source
Source: de.indymedia