Overview

• Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig says AfD’s polling strength should not preclude a ban process and insists on thorough evidence review of any planned attacks on democracy.
• North Rhine-Westphalia’s Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach calls for a broad political alliance and independent experts to assess the feasibility of initiating a ban procedure.
• The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution upgraded AfD to a “confirmed extremist endeavour” in early May but has paused that status and continues to list the party as a “suspect case” pending a court decision.
• NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst cautions that legal hurdles for a ban are high and favors challenging the AfD through political debate rather than a judicial route.
• Only the Bundestag, Bundesrat or federal cabinet can formally launch a ban procedure, with the Federal Constitutional Court holding final authority on a party’s constitutionality.