State election - Minister of Social Affairs Köpping: Examine proceedings to ban the AfD
Petra Köpping, Saxony's Minister of Social Affairs and the SPD's lead candidate for the state elections, has spoken out in favor of examining the possibility of banning the AfD. "We should regularly examine the chances of banning the AfD," Köpping told Der Spiegel, thereby aligning herself with SPD federal chairwoman Saskia Esken. The NPD ban procedure had failed because the party had only achieved low election results and therefore posed no threat. "I see things differently with the AfD," argued Köpping. "The AfD is strong, it is a threat to democracy."
Esken had spoken out in favor of a regular review of an AfD ban. Her party colleague Carsten Schneider, Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Europe, warned against this. Such a procedure would have little chance and would increase solidarity with the AfD.
Köpping also qualified that a ban procedure should not be pursued without any ifs and buts, "because failure would be fatal for the social climate". The strength of the AfD in Saxony is nothing new, said Köpping. "There were massive campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic: against vaccination, against protective measures. This fierce populism is eating away at democracy." The democratic parties must stand up to it, "including the CDU/CSU", Köpping warned.
Former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse also spoke out in favor of examining a ban procedure. "If the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in three federal states classifies the AfD as definitely right-wing extremist, then the state has a duty to consider banning the AfD," the SPD politician told the Tagesspiegel newspaper (Thursday). However, "one must consider very soberly: there are high hurdles for a party ban in Germany, a ban procedure takes a long time, probably many years, and the AfD would exploit this considerably for propaganda purposes, stylizing itself as a victim".
In all polls for the Bundestag elections, the AfD is in second place behind the CDU/CSU with more than 20 percent, well ahead of the governing parties SPD, Greens and FDP. In Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg, where new state parliaments will be elected in September, polls show the AfD in the lead, in some cases by a considerable margin. In Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, the party is classified as "definitely right-wing extremist" by the state offices for the protection of the constitution.
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- Saskia Esken, the SPD's federal chairwoman, supports the regular examination of the potential for banning the AfD, aligning with Saxony's Minister of Social Affairs and SPD's lead candidate for the state elections, Petra Köpping.
- Carsten Schneider, the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Europe, expressed concerns about pursuing ban proceedings against the AfD, stating that it would have little chance and increase solidarity with the party.
- In responses to the growing strength of the AfD in Germany, Köpping argued for a cautious approach to ban proceedings, emphasizing the potential negative impact on the social climate if the attempt failed.
- The AfD is currently polling second behind the CDU/CSU in Bundestag elections with more than 20 percent, and is leading in some state elections, including Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg.
- The state offices for the protection of the constitution in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg have classified the AfD as "definitely right-wing extremist."
- In response to the classification, former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse suggested that the German state has a duty to consider a ban on the AfD, though he expressed skepticism due to the high hurdles and lengthy time frame for party ban proceedings in Germany.
- Gesine Lötzsch, a Green member of the German Bundestag, advocated for a disbandment of the AfD following the federal election, citing concerns about the party's impact on democracy in Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
