German Lawmakers Push for AfD Ban Amid Constitutional Concerns

A cross-party group seeks to ban the AfD, citing threats to democracy, but faces significant legal and political hurdles.

A coalition of Bundestag members from various parties, including CDU, SPD, Greens, and Linke, is advocating for a ban on the AfD, arguing that the party poses a threat to democratic principles.
The proposed ban requires a majority in the Bundestag to proceed to the Federal Constitutional Court, with current support uncertain due to opposition from FDP and others.
The AfD is under scrutiny as a right-wing extremist suspect by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, but proving its aggressive intent against democracy remains challenging.
Past attempts to ban parties in Germany have faced high legal thresholds, with only two successful bans since the country's founding, highlighting the complexity of such proceedings.
Critics argue that banning the AfD might not address underlying political issues and could inadvertently bolster the party's support among its base.