German Minister Warns Against Rushed AfD Ban Proceedings
In the debate over a potential AfD ban, Olaf Lies, the designated Minister-President of Lower Saxony, has cautioned against a hasty approach. “I consider it dangerous and premature to demand a proceeding” he told the Handelsblatt. The next step, he said, should be to familiarize oneself with the basis for reevaluating the AfD, namely the relevant report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Lies now expects the Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, to take the lead, discussing the report with his state counterparts. “It’s about a careful examination of whether such a report might ultimately even oblige us to initiate a ban proceeding” the SPD politician said. “It’s about the protection of the state and our liberal democratic constitutional order, which has brought us peace and prosperity over so many decades.”
According to Lies, those who, in accordance with our constitution, have a role to play, should now be involved. “In the end, a well-considered and balanced decision must stand, on whether a ban application will be filed.”
Lies also called for a factual debate on migration, pointing to the high popularity of the AfD. “It is indeed the case that, for example, in Lower Saxony, we have rented premises for refugee accommodations that we will likely no longer need in the near future” he said. “This shows that we have a more relaxed situation than we had a year and a half ago.” However, this development was not solely due to the new interior minister’s migration policy. “The migration turnaround was initiated by Nancy Faeser.” This does not mean that there is no longer a need for action. “But the development is heading in the right direction.