German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has expressed her support for the examination of a potential ban of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In an interview with the Funke Media Group, Hubig stated, “My conviction is that we must take the path of examining a ban procedure now. If the preconditions are met, then we should use this instrument as well.” She emphasized that a party ban is “the sharpest sword of the robust democracy in dealing with its organized enemies” and that it is “good and right that there are high hurdles for it and therefore, a careful examination is needed.”
Hubig highlighted that a party ban is not a replacement for political opposition against the AfD and that the voters of the party are not all right-wing extremists or constitutional enemies. She emphasized that these people need to be won back by politics, showing that the state functions well and cares about their concerns.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had previously classified the AfD as a securely right-wing extremist endeavor, but after a lawsuit by the party, the agency agreed to suspend such observation until a decision is made by the Cologne Administrative Court. The Union remains skeptical, with Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt saying that a ban would play into the AfD’s hands and that he recommends “outmaneuvering” the party from the center.