Berlin, January 31, 2025 – The Europe Today: German lawmakers engaged in a heated parliamentary debate on Thursday over the possibility of banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, amid escalating concerns over its alleged anti-democratic activities.
Social Democrat (SPD) lawmaker Johannes Fechner strongly criticized the AfD, asserting that right-wing extremists pose a significant threat to democracy. He expressed his support for a motion to initiate legal proceedings aimed at banning the party, citing numerous controversial actions, xenophobic rhetoric, and racist statements made by AfD politicians in recent years.
“The AfD is an anti-constitutional party—the SPD parliamentary group has absolutely no doubt about this,” Fechner stated. He accused the party of promoting individuals with criminal backgrounds to key parliamentary positions and of advocating an ethno-nationalist ideology that seeks to expel millions of citizens, including those with German citizenship, under the guise of “remigration” policies.
Acknowledging the legal complexities involved, Fechner emphasized that the Federal Constitutional Court sets high standards for party bans and that any attempt to outlaw the AfD must be carefully examined to ensure success. He also expressed appreciation that lawmakers did not call for an immediate vote, warning that a failed motion at this stage could send the wrong political signal ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections on February 23.
During the debate, lawmakers from the main opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) voiced skepticism about pursuing a legal ban, citing political and legal challenges. CDU lawmaker Philipp Amthor argued against the motion, stating that his party fundamentally opposes banning political organizations and instead prefers to counter extremist ideologies through democratic means.
“We believe in the power of democracy to solve problems, and we do not see the party ban as the right instrument either,” Amthor said. He also warned that attempting to ban the AfD without meeting the stringent legal criteria set by the Federal Constitutional Court could backfire and ultimately strengthen the party’s position.
Two motions advocating for the initiation of legal proceedings to ban the AfD—one signed by lawmakers from multiple parties and another submitted by the Greens—were forwarded to the relevant parliamentary committees for further review. The outcome of these discussions will determine whether Germany moves forward with legal measures to outlaw the far-right party.