German Court Cuts State Funding for Far-Right Party, Sparks Debate on AfD

The landmark ruling against Die Heimat, seen as a model for dealing with the AfD, comes amidst nationwide protests against the rise of the far right.

Germany's constitutional court has ruled that the right-wing extremist party, Die Heimat, should be barred from receiving further state funding and tax breaks.
The ruling marks the first time that Germany has cut state financial support for a party without banning it, sparking debate about whether similar measures should be applied to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Die Heimat, previously known as the NPD, was deemed unconstitutional and anti-democratic, paving the way for the case that a party undermining the German democratic state should not receive taxpayer support.
Despite the ruling, some fear that banning the AfD or cutting its funding would play into the party's narrative of being victimised by mainstream society and would galvanise support.
The AfD is currently polling second nationwide and leading in regions of the former East Germany, where key regional elections will be held later this year.