Explosive allegations surrounding Stephan J. Kramer, the head of Thuringia’s constitutional protection agency, have triggered calls for his resignation from various political and media circles.
The Thuringian FDP is demanding that Kramer step down temporarily, with party chairman and former prime minister Thomas Kemmerich stating, “The accusation of being a state within a state is serious and not new. Therefore, an expert commission must investigate the Kramer case urgently. Until then, Kramer should resign from his position as President of the Protection of the Constitution.”
Thuringian MP Gerald Ullrich also raised questions on social media, asking, “What does Bodo [Ramelow] think about the allegations against the head of Thuringian Constitutional Protection? Wasn’t it he who appointed him? Transparent information is needed about the accusations.”
The Thuringian CDU, led by likely future Prime Minister Mario Voigt, is joining in with demands for action. CDU state parliament member Martin Henkel told Apollo News, “If the allegations against Kramer are confirmed, his position as head of the Thuringian Protection of the Constitution is no longer tenable.” Henkel went even further, questioning Kramer’s suitability for the role, pointing out that by law, the president should have the qualifications to serve as a judge—qualifications Kramer does not possess, as he is a social pedagogue.
Friedrich Pürner, an MEP from the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, also joined the chorus of voices calling for accountability. He believes Georg Maier, the current SPD state minister and Kramer’s superior, should not be part of the future state government. “Georg Maier… granted Kramer the position of President of the VS Thuringia. His involvement in this scandal needs to be clarified,” Pürner stated.
