A prominent member of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is publicly urging swift legal action that could lead to a ban of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Ralf Stegner, an SPD Member of Parliament, stated the need to accelerate procedures for initiating a formal prohibition case against the AfD
His call comes amidst internal debate within the governing coalition regarding the feasibility and potential ramifications of such a move Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, also of the SPD, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of success, explaining that the assessment from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution – which categorized the AfD as a confirmed far-right extremist endeavor – may not meet the high legal threshold required for a ban by the Federal Constitutional Court Hubig emphasized the significant legal obstacles that would need to be overcome
Stegner counters that existing evidence demonstrates widespread anti-democratic activity within the AfD over an extended period He argues there’s sufficient justification for attempting to halt the party’s activities through legal means stipulated in the German constitution He expressed concern that failing to pursue all available options could lead to regret in the future
The call for a potential ban has also drawn criticism from other political figures Concerns have been raised, particularly by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, that initiating a prohibition process could inadvertently bolster the AfD’s narrative and garner further support Stegner dismisses these concerns, asserting that any negative consequences of legal proceedings would be less damaging than the existing impact of the AfD and its representatives on German democracy