Ilse Aigner warns of democracy threats in Munich speech

Bavarian Landtag President Ilse Aigner delivered a speech at the Ludwig‑Maximilians‑Universität in Munich, calling for a strong defence of Germany’s democracy. She said the freedom of the country is "threatened by fear" and warned that multiple crises – the financial and economic downturn, illegal migration, the COVID‑19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East – are being exploited by extremist forces.

Aigner criticised the AfD as a partly right‑wing extremist party that fuels division, and she singled out social‑media platforms as “brand accelerators”. She warned that “the algorithm rewards radicalism” and urged stricter youth protection online. Her speech concluded with a plea to restore public trust, improve economic policy and make the state resilient against both internal and external attacks.

The event was marked by the university’s award of the “Ort der Demokratie in Bayern” (Place of Democracy in Bavaria) to the Great Auditorium, underscoring the political context of her remarks.