Pistorius and Özdemir press a ban case as Berlin rejects a pre-election ransom demand
Defence Minister Pistorius and Baden-Württemberg premier Özdemir called for a Federal Constitutional Court ban petition against the AfD's Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg branches as soon as possible, days before the Saxony-Anhalt state election. Interior Minister Dobrindt rejected the call. Berlin Mayor Wegner said attackers who compromised city systems had made a ransom demand and that Berlin would not give in, one month before the city election.
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Pistorius and Özdemir press for a ban petition
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Baden-Württemberg premier Cem Özdemir called in a joint article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung for a ban petition to be filed with the Federal Constitutional Court as soon as possible against the AfD's Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg branches. They drew a line between what they called the party's German-national wing, which they said can be met with argument, and its völkisch wing, which they said openly questions the foundations of the constitution and despises democracy and therefore cannot be answered by debate. They wrote that such a case is legally possible, supported by evidence and required by the constitution. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt rejected the call and said the AfD should be pushed out of power at the ballot box. The CDU's Günter Krings warned against acting prematurely.[1]
Both stories landed against election calendars
Pistorius and Özdemir's call came days before the Saxony-Anhalt state election while Mayor Wegner said Berlin faced a ransom demand one month before the city election.[1], [2]
Berlin refuses the ransom demand and shuts online services
Mayor Kai Wegner said attackers who compromised city systems this month made a ransom demand on Thursday evening and that Berlin would not give in to it. Wegner did not say how much was being sought; Der Spiegel reports the attackers are demanding 30 bitcoin, worth around 2 million euros. The Rhysida group, thought to operate from Russia and eastern Europe and behind the 2023 intrusion into the British Museum's systems, has reportedly claimed responsibility and says it will begin auctioning the 5.79 TB it took in seven days' time. Officials said an initial data leak occurred between 7 and 12 August and that two department networks were shut on 14 August, making housing benefit applications impossible for several days; forensic work has since revealed further leaks in the transport and environment department. State senator Iris Spranger said election infrastructure had not been compromised. Some of the city's online services were shut down, and the mayor's office said personal or other non-public data may also be affected.[2]
