Gatherings - Political leader Scholz opposes legal action against AfD party.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is currently against a ban on Germany's right-wing party AfD. In a statement made at the German Catholic Day in Erfurt, he mentioned that banning a party in a democracy is a challenging task and requires a high level of scrutiny. According to Scholz, the intelligence service should first perform its duties, while the laws should be enforced.
The discussion about making the country's constitution more crisis-ready has also been a topic of debate. Following a comment from the Federal Constitutional Court, public funding of political parties has been revised so that the classification could potentially impact it. This would open up new possibilities, said Scholz. "I would first consider that option," he added, "I don't think a ban is imminent yet."
Scholz also pointed out that right-wing populist parties have significantly grown in other countries like Finland, Sweden, and Austria. These countries have managed to deal with the issue without too many problems, noted the Chancellor. "From the perspective of others, it's almost like a paradise," he said. The right-wing populists rely on exploiting uncertainty about the future, and exacerbating division. Scholz stated that the solution to this issue can only be found by handling it effectively and by focusing on solutions rather than creating further divisions.
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- Despite the growth of right-wing populist parties in countries such as Finland, Sweden, and Austria, Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that Germany's AfD can be managed without resorting to a ban, as these countries have shown.
- During the German Catholic Day in Erfurt, Scholz expressed his opposition to a ban on the AfD, stating that it's a complex task in a democracy and requires careful scrutiny.
- With the discussion underway about making Germany's constitution more crisis-ready, Scholz suggested considering revising the public funding of political parties, which could potentially impact the AfD's status.
- In response to a comment from the Federal Constitutional Court regarding political party funding, Scholz, while in Erfurt for the Catholic Day, emphasized the importance of democratic principles and warned against dividing the populace.
- As the leader of Germany, Olaf Scholz is committed to upholding the country's democracy and protection of the constitution, and he believes that banning a political party should be considered as a last resort, following due process and rigorous scrutiny.
