The leader of the Green Party, Felix Banaszak, has urged Jens Spahn, parliamentary group leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), to participate in renewed cross-factional discussions regarding a potential ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Banaszak, in statements to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, emphasized growing concerns regarding the AfD’s increasingly extremist stance and publicly stated intentions, including limitations on freedom of expression and press. He cautioned against complacency, noting the urgency of the situation.
According to Banaszak, Green Party parliamentary group leaders have extended invitations to all democratic factions to initiate dialogue on the matter. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Left Party have reportedly accepted these invitations. Banaszak specifically implored the CDU and CSU to reconsider their current strategies concerning the AfD.
The Green Party leader warned against adopting the positions or language of extremist groups, arguing it inadvertently strengthens their influence, citing recent polling data as evidence. He expressed concern over the global rise of right-wing extremism, drawing a comparison to the current political climate in the United States and asserting the need for a fundamental shift in approach in Germany. He described the potential consequences as the “end of freedom and democracy” emphasizing the danger of inaction and allowing anti-democratic forces to erode democratic institutions.
Article 21 of the German Basic Law defines as unconstitutional parties whose aims or the behavior of their supporters are directed towards undermining or abolishing the basic democratic order or endangering the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany.