Germany’s Justice Minister Calls for Review of AfD’s Constitutional Status
In a recent interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig expressed her support for reviewing the AfD’s (Alternative for Germany) constitutional status, deeming the party “a potential threat to our democracy.”
Hubig emphasized the importance of taking a thorough approach, stating that the party ban is the “sharpest sword our democracy has against its organized enemies.” She emphasized the need for a careful examination of the circumstances before taking action, adding that if the conditions are met, it would be “hard to justify not using the instrument.”
The Justice Minister announced that the federal government will consult and find a unified response to the issue of a potential ban. Unlike Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who only sees the federal government’s role in the matter, Hubig believes the Bundestag and the Bundesrat should also engage in the discussion. “I would like to stress that the Bundestag and the Bundesrat must also be involved in this discussion, as the application for a ban can be made not only by the federal government, but also by the Bundestag or the Bundesrat” she said.
Regarding the uncertain outcome of a potential ban, Hubig said, “We can never be certain of the outcome beforehand, just like in criminal proceedings, where a conviction is not guaranteed at the start. Nonetheless, the rule of law does not abstain from filing charges.