Leipzig (dpa / sn) - Saxony's Justice Minister Katja Meier has, as expected, welcomed the verdict against the former AfD member of the Bundestag Jens Maier. "The decision is trend-setting nationwide. It is clear that enemies of the constitution are not allowed to speak their minds in this country," said the Greens politician on Thursday. The Leipzig service court for judges had previously decided to retire Maier early. Meier emphasized that all judges and civil servants must at all times commit to the free democratic basic order in accordance with the Basic Law and advocate compliance with it.
The Justice Department had requested the retirement. The Greens politician argued that anyone who is viewed as a right-wing extremist by state authorities can no longer be a credible representative of the judiciary. Maier is classified as a right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony, but he is suing the Dresden Administrative Court. He had lost his mandate in the 2021 federal election and then wanted to return to the judiciary. The verdict is not yet legally binding.
