A renewed push for a potential ban of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gained significant momentum this week following an agreement between the Berlin CDU and SPD to initiate a corresponding motion within the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper house representing the federal states. This development has been hailed by proponents of the ban as a crucial breakthrough, potentially circumventing the parliamentary gridlock that has previously stymied such efforts within the Bundestag.
Green Party parliamentarian Till Steffen, a long-time advocate for an AfD ban, characterized the move as a “breakthrough” stating that it offers a viable pathway towards pursuing the legal process. Previous attempts to trigger a Bundestag investigation into the AfD’s activities and assess whether it poses a threat to the constitutional order, have failed to secure the necessary majority. This new strategy, leveraging the Bundesrat’s involvement, offers a potentially more favorable political landscape.
Steffen urged the upcoming Interior Ministers’ Conference to follow suit, emphasizing that the decisions made in Berlin and Schleswig-Holstein, where a similar call for action was passed by the state parliament in Kiel, demonstrate the potential for CDU, traditionally more cautious on the issue, to be convinced of the necessity of action.
The Kiel parliamentary motion, endorsed by a broad coalition of CDU, Greens, SPD and SSW, specifically calls for the establishment of a joint Federal-State working group tasked with compiling the evidentiary basis required to initiate a formal ban procedure. This meticulous documentation of alleged illegal activities and anti-constitutional sentiment within the AfD is a critical step in the complex legal process.
SPD parliamentarian Orkan Özdemir from Berlin echoed the sentiment of cautious optimism, acknowledging the CDU’s contribution. The collaborative effort, he said, sends a “significant signal” to both the federal government and the states, underscoring a unified front in the “defense of democracy and the rule of law” and in confronting “völkisch [people-based/nationalistic] right-wing extremism.
However, legal experts remain divided on the likelihood of a successful ban, citing the high legal threshold required for such a measure and the potential for lengthy and drawn-out legal challenges. Nevertheless, the increased political will displayed by the CDU in Berlin marks a significant shift and raises the prospect of intensified scrutiny of the AfD’s actions and ideological leanings. The formation of the Federal-State working group is expected to reveal the extent of evidence gathered and potentially shape the future trajectory of the political debate surrounding the party.