The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) has supported a proposal to ban the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). The decision was adopted at the end of the three-day national conference of the Social Democrats in Berlin, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
“The moment counterintelligence indicates that this is a proven right-wing extremist party, any tactical considerations take a back seat“, said SPD co-chair Lars Klingbeil, who is also finance minister and vice chancellor in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government.
The adopted proposal calls on the competent constitutional institutions to begin a formal procedure to declare the AfD as an unconstitutional organization.
“Now is the time for the authorized constitutional bodies to create the conditions for immediately submitting a request to declare the AfD unconstitutional“, the text of the resolution states.
The "Alternative for Germany" party, known for its anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, Eurosceptic and nationalist rhetoric, has been the subject of sharp disputes in German politics for over a decade. In recent years, it has gained popularity against a backdrop of growing dissatisfaction with the economic situation and concerns about migration issues. The AfD is currently the largest opposition force in the country.
Calls to ban the party have intensified after the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution officially classified it as “proven right-wing extremist“ in May, which expanded the possibilities for monitoring its activities
However, the official declaration of the party as right-wing extremist has not yet come into force, as the decision of the administrative court in Cologne on an appeal filed by the AfD is awaited. Until the court's ruling, the party will be treated as a “alleged” extremist organization.
After the last elections in February, the SPD, which dominated the government of Olaf Scholz, lost significant support, falling to 16%. The party is now a junior coalition partner in the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), together with the Christian Social Union (CSU).