A prominent member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has publicly advocated for the initiation of a formal process to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Sascha van Beek, a CDU Member of Parliament, stated that, based on his observations of the party’s activities and rhetoric, a ban appears necessary, while cautioning against hasty decisions. He emphasized his perspective as a parliamentarian and father, citing historical considerations as informing his stance.
The call for a ban comes amidst ongoing debate within the German political landscape regarding the AfD’s increasingly prominent role. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU has suggested a more cautious approach, advocating for conclusive legal confirmation of the AfD’s classification as a far-right extremist organization before any prohibition proceedings are launched.
Van Beek proposed the appointment of an independent special investigator to consolidate evidence and prepare the groundwork for a potential ban, urging swift action and minimized public debate.
Meanwhile, Carmen Wegge, spokesperson for legal and consumer protection for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group, reiterated her party’s long-standing call for a joint federal and state working group to prepare a ban. Wegge indicated that the SPD is actively engaging in discussions with other democratic parties, including the CDU/CSU, at all levels of government, arguing that the accumulating evidence necessitates a response. She suggested that the CDU/CSU can no longer avoid addressing the issue, given the extent of the available information.
