Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz expresses skepticism towards an AfD-Verbotsverfahren. He believes that it smells “too much of political competitor elimination” as stated in an interview with the “Zeit” magazine. According to the Chancellor, “Aggressively fighting against the free democratic basic order must be proven.” He further emphasizes that “The burden of proof lies exclusively with the state. This is a classic task of the executive.”
Merz criticizes the handling of the previous government regarding the report of the Federal Constitutional Court on the AfD. He is “not happy with the course of this procedure” as mentioned by the Chancellor. “Without a substantive review, a report is presented, which is simultaneously classified as confidential.” Merz adds, “I am not familiar with the content of this report and to be honest, I do not want to know it before the Federal Ministry of the Interior has derived an assessment from it.” This process will “take several weeks and months.”
Regarding his role, Merz states, “Landesvater – it sounds reassuring, but also somewhat sluggish. This is not my image. This federal government works for all 84 million people of the Federal Republic of Germany, this is my message.” He clarifies, “I am not primarily the CDU chairman who occasionally drops by at the Chancellery, but I am the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany who occasionally pays a visit to my party headquarters.” Merz tells the “Zeit” magazine.