Klingbeil cautions against hasty measures to outlaw the AfD.
A decision by the Appeals Court in Münster has sparked another round of discussions on forbidding the AfD. SPD leader Klingbeil is against rushing into it - there should be more specific charges and proof against the party, known for its far-right views, first.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil cautioned against taking immediate action in the dispute over forbidding the AfD. "I believe we should approach this with caution, to avoid giving the impression that it's a political move to ban the AfD," stated Klingbeil.
"The right moment may come where we need to defend democracy from its foes, but there must be substantial evidence to take such measures." For now, Germany's internal intelligence agency must persist in its task.
Recently, the Higher Administrative Court in North Rhine-Westphalia in Münster reinvigorated the conversation about banning the AfD with its decision. The judges found that the AfD's classification as a supposed far-right extremist organization by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is indeed legitimate. This decision allows the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution to keep using undercover agents to observe the party.
Staying vigilant against the AfD
Klingbeil expressed agreement with the court's judgment that the AfD is a far-right extremist party. If enough evidence emerged against the party for a ban proceeding, then the next steps would have to be taken. "However, at the moment, I think it's reasonable to emphasize that the authorities and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution should keep doing their job, keep analyzing the situation," mentioned Klingbeil.
Klingbeil labeled confronting the AfD as one of the most significant challenges for present-day political leaders. When it comes to the European elections, he indicated, "Those who vote for the AfD are, ultimately, voting for Russia." He referenced the public prosecutor's investigation into AfD lawmaker Petr Bystron over initial suspicions of bribery and money laundering. Media reports suggest that money allegedly originated from Russia.
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Source: www.ntv.de
