German Far-Right Party’s Ban a Possibility, Says New Eastern Envoy of German Government
Elisabeth Kaiser, the new Eastern Envoy of the German government, has called for a swift ban of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and urged the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to clearly distance itself from the right-wing extremist party.
In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, Kaiser emphasized that a party ban is a necessary measure to protect democracy, citing the example of the Weimar Republic, where a democratically elected party contributed to its downfall.
“If the legal prerequisites for a ban are met, it should not matter how many voters a party has” Kaiser said, adding that a ban alone would not solve the political problem. “Only good politics can prevent right-wing extremist actors from gaining government responsibility.”
Kaiser also called for the CDU to clearly disassociate itself from the AfD, particularly in the eastern regions of Germany. “The CDU’s local branches in the east are now crucial” she said. “The wall of separation must remain stable.” Kaiser warned against any experiments that could be used by the AfD to stir up chaos.