AfD meets in Wunderland

“Every stay at Wunderland Kalkar is a unique experience.” This is how the multi-complex advertises its adventure and family park, which also includes a congress center, on the site of the former “Fast Breder” nuclear power plant, which was never connected to the grid. This weekend could also be a unique experience for almost 600 AfD delegates.

Because near the border with the Netherlands, the AfD is holding its federal party conference amid the Corona crisis. As a presence party conference. The delegates are attended by employees, organizational staff and journalists, so more than 700 participants can be expected. The hope of many delegates that they could at least be released from the mask requirement on their seats has not been fulfilled.

Because the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) of the state of Münster ruled on Friday in an urgent decision that oral and nasal protection is applied continuously to all participants, and therefore rejected a request from the AfD. The court made it clear that those who refused to wear masks had to leave the party congress. “Participants of the federal AfD party conference in Kalkar next weekend must wear a mask every day, even if the minimum distance is observed, and must be excluded from the event if they violate this obligation,” the OVG said.

Mayor: No Lex AfD

Britta Schulz, mayor of Kalkar, had criticized the AfD presence party conference as “irresponsible.” But there is no way to prevent the event. In fact, the Ordinance for the protection of the crown of North Rhine-Westphalia lays down special rules for party events, and the number of participants is not limited. The administration of the city with a population of 14,000 has left no doubt that participants and visitors to the AfD party congress must adhere to the strict agreed hygiene concept. The conditions are not a Lex AfD, but obligations, which in turn result from the Crown Protection Ordinance. The most important points are: hallways and spaces must be marked, ventilation must be provided, sufficient disinfectant must be available.

Citizens have to wear masks everywhere and can only sit at a table with few people, complains Mayor Schulz. An event like the AfD party congress could “become a hotspot.” “That takes society to the limit of understanding and acceptance.” In addition, the AfD is putting his administration in a position “that we can only face with great difficulties,” the mayor said. Because the monitoring of hygiene requirements is a gigantic task for the small community. She only has three of her own employees for this.

As volunteers from other administrative departments and neighboring municipalities have reported, 20 employees will work closely with the police to ensure that infection protection requirements are met. In the event of violations, a “speech” will begin, always in accordance with the principle of proportionality, according to the Kalkar city administration. As a last resort, in case of repeated serious violations, you also have the right to interrupt the conference of the federal AfD party.

The spacious venue on the banks of the Rhine should allow AfD delegates to abide by the rules, if they so wish. A Dutch contractor bought the entire facility in 1995 and turned it into a strange amusement park.

The main attraction of the amusement park “Wunderland Kalkar”, currently closed due to the pandemic, is the old cooling tower. An alpine panorama adorns it from the outside. Inside, a chain carousel is incorporated, which carries its passengers around the edge of the tower at full speed. There is also a 1000 bed hotel and above all several large and easily ventilated exhibition halls on site. Furthermore, the area is fenced off almost as robustly as in atomic times. This will make it easier for the police to keep away the many counter-protesters.