Antifascist about elections in MV: “The result is shitty”

taz: How are you feeling about the election results?

Leila Proft: We assumed it would be a shitty result. And that's it. We have the second highest AfD result in the Federal Republic.

taz: Is there anything you're happy about?

Proft: The only thing we are happy about is that the CDU and BSW will not be in the state parliament. But this is a bitter joy. That's a gloat, because they're running a program like the AfD had five years ago. That's hypocritical and that's why the CDU is no longer eligible for election. And although a red-green-red state government is now likely to come, it is clear: it will be more difficult - be it voluntary work, be it full-time, for example in the social sector or for people who work in accommodation for refugees. Private life will also become more difficult.

is a trained anthropologist. The 33-year-old works in the Rostock district as a consultant for strengthening democracy and preventing right-wing extremism and is involved with Rostock Nazifrei.

Proft: You don't need an AfD government to notice the shift to the right. In my job I work a lot with public administration. It becomes very clear there: there is an anticipatory obedience. Normally there are always “electoral touchstones” before elections. These are questions and answers from interest groups to the political parties. All relevant parties were asked, including the AfD. And the district is no longer willing to publish it because it is afraid that it would supposedly endanger its neutrality.

taz: How does the authoritarian development manifest itself on the streets?

Proft: For example, at a rally against the AfD on Saturday in Warnemünde. The person who moderated the event was a female person with a colorful wig. She was attacked. A colorful wig was enough! At first people walked past shaking their heads. Then a passer-by came up to her and pushed her. So not a Nazi squad, just a normal passer-by.

taz: The AfD has become the strongest force with 38.2 percent. But she missed the absolute majority and probably no one wants to form a coalition with her. That's something, isn't it?

Proft: The problem is that violence will continue to increase. Incidents like the one in Warnemünde show that the inhibition threshold for attacks is falling, even among the “normal” population. It has been proven that when the AfD has high election results, the attacks increase. We already saw that after the local elections. The attackers see themselves as the executing force of political will in the country; they feel legitimized by the high level of support for the AfD. And now this is getting even more unpleasant.

taz: What do you expect from the SPD and the Left Party if they become part of the government again?

Proft: Well, they should finally do social policy. Instead, there are free daycare centers for everyone, including those who could afford the fees. This money would be better invested elsewhere. The Ministry of Education was previously in left-wing hands, but the hut is burning in the schools! They have a massive problem with right-wing students and are completely left alone. There is a lack of teachers, social workers, equipment and much more. Education under a red-red government could actually be pure paradise. All of these things urgently need to change if people are not to become even more dissatisfied. And it was the red-red government that introduced the payment card and thereby further disempowered refugees. That's not left-wing politics!

Proft: This is also very much due to internal problems in the democratic parties. Even the Left Party is totally stagnant here in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and there are still many old cadres in control here. The left could easily get more votes if they finally let the many stable young women who are here have their say. Not only because they know better how social media works, which is essential for electoral success, but also because they would set different topics and activate new people.