In Germany, politicians are being watched like Liepāja tram drivers - with suspicion and binoculars

While politicians in Riga argue about who's allowed to say what, Germany is experiencing a real detective novel. Turns out the AfD party is being monitored there like onion sellers at Liepāja market — with suspicion and constant attention.

The Cologne court decided that AfD cannot be called a confirmed extremist organization, but can be kept under suspicion. It's like Karosta — officially not dangerous, but better not to wander there without necessity. As one Liepāja resident Oskars said: "We also have a party here that monitors — the tram drivers' union. But at least they know what they're doing."

German minister Dobrindt announced that surveillance measures will continue, but cannot reveal what they are because they're secret. Well, of course! As Liepāja folks say — if you want to hide something, don't talk about it on TV. But Germans apparently haven't learned that yet.

AfD politicians are naturally outraged and cry about unjustified persecution. But well — in Liepāja we've long known that if someone loudly protests about being watched, they're definitely hiding something. Like on our beach — whoever shouts loudest that they haven't been drinking usually has the biggest problems with balance.