SPD Interior Ministers in Thuringia and Lower Saxony are pushing for a serious discussion regarding a potential legal ban of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during the upcoming Interior Minister Conference in Bremen. Georg Maier and Daniela Behrens, in statements to the Handelsblatt, signaled their intention to broach the highly sensitive subject within informal discussions amongst their colleagues, citing concerns over the party’s trajectory and the recent formation of its youth wing, “Generation Deutschland.
The emergence of “Generation Deutschland” launched last weekend in Gießen, has fueled anxieties within the ruling coalition. Maier asserted that the organization demonstrably fails to offer any indication of de-radicalization within the AfD, suggesting instead a “further alignment with the far-right extremist landscape” within which the party operates. The timing is particularly crucial, as the Administrative Court of Cologne is reportedly poised to deliver a ruling on whether the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution should classify the AfD as a “securely right-wing extremist endeavor”. Maier stressed the need for preparedness, arguing that inaction is not a viable option.
Daniela Behrens emphasized the importance of a diligent and unbiased assessment of the situation. She urged Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to scrutinize both the Verfassungsschutz’s AfD assessment and the pending court decision with “extreme care and, above all, with an open mind”. She cautioned that initiating a ban without a legally robust foundation carries the significant risk of a counterproductive outcome, potentially lending the AfD unexpected and prolonged credibility. The prospect, Behrens argued, requires a cautious approach focused on ensuring any legal action is demonstrably viable in a court of law, lest it inadvertently bolster the party’s standing. The debate reflects a growing internal pressure within the German political establishment regarding how to effectively curtail the influence of a party increasingly perceived as a threat to democratic principles.