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WWhen a minister is under pressure, his boss has several options. It can express confidence in him or mean that he has lost it. Manuela Schwesig and her interior minister, Lorenz Caffier, chose a middle ground for the weekend. But that’s not the end of the matter for him. “The defense of democracy and freedom and the fight against right-wing extremism are central concerns of the state government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,” announced the State Chancellery after the Prime Minister’s meeting with Caffier. “There should be no doubt about it.” As unclear as it is on the long and burning affair of the minister’s arms purchase, one thing is for sure: a communication disaster.
Matthias Wyssuwa
Political Correspondent for Northern Germany and Scandinavia based in Hamburg.
It concerns the activities of the far-right network “Nordkreuz”, its connections with the security forces, with a shooting range in Güstrow and with its boss Frank T. Last Thursday, Interior Minister Caffier was presenting the report. of constitutional protection when a journalist from the “newspaper” asked him if he bought a gun from Frank T. as a private person. He could be asked about private matters, the minister replied. A video of the scene made the rounds and the outrage grew.
On Friday, Caffier commented on it. When asked if he had bought a gun from the managing director of the “Baltic Shooters” Frank T., who is said to have connections to the Nordkreuz network, told “Spiegel”: “Yes, I did. A gun. At the beginning of 2018, on the basis of the legal basis and at a time when the man was not yet under suspicion and was considered a reliable training partner for the police at home and abroad. Caffier emphasized that special units from other federal states had also trained at the firing range. and he’s been a hunter for 40 years, pistols were part of normal equipment. Still, the disaster was perfect.
The goal was the collapse of the political order
In the report on the protection of the constitution presented, the “Nordkreuz” network is referred to as a “right-wing extremist group” that has prepared specifically for the collapse of the political order. This also includes the acquisition of weapons and ammunition. “It is worrying that there are also police among the members.”
A central figure in the network is said to be Marko G., a former SEK policeman, in whose house a total of around 55,000 rounds of ammunition were found in 2017 and 2019, as well as a submachine gun that had disappeared from stock. of the armed forces. In 2019, a trial against G. only concerned allegations of illegal possession of weapons. Because he had permission for many things, he got away with a suspended sentence. Investigations were also carried out against other active or former members of the special forces. Caffier had presented himself as an educator, a commission had drawn up reform proposals for the special forces. As a marksman and coach, G. also had connections to the shooting range in Güstrow, which is said to have been important to the net. As the “newspaper” reports, the place was searched in 2019.
Caffier: “Nonsense and smears”
“With the knowledge of 2019, of course, I would not have acquired a weapon there,” Caffier said. At the beginning of 2018, he and his authorities had no suspicions about the company, so he did not suspect it when buying it. The fact that he is supposed to be close to “Nordkreuz” or the environment is said to be “complete nonsense and defamatory”.
But the matter does not end with the admission of the purchase of a weapon. His comments already raise more questions, especially when you really know about T. and the shooting range. In any event, on Saturday, the State Chancellery announced, Caffier had also assured Schwesig that he had no evidence of suspicion against the seller at the time of the purchase of the weapon. “The prime minister asked the interior minister to clarify all the questions, to work on the matter and to explain it in Parliament and in public.” It was not explained what these questions are and when you should answer them.
After all, Caffier compatibility is still intact in the CDU. Head of State Michael Sack agreed with the NDR. The parliamentary group’s internal policy spokesman, Marc Reinhardt, told FAZ: “From my point of view, Lorenz Caffier has answered all open questions in full.” At the Interior Committee next week, MPs will have the opportunity to directly question the Interior Minister again.
