The emergence of a new youth organization affiliated with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), dubbed “Generation Deutschland” is injecting fresh urgency into the debate surrounding a potential ban of the increasingly controversial political party. Marc Henrichmann, a security policy expert and chairman of the Bundestag’s Intelligence Oversight Committee, signaled to the Handelsblatt that the formation of this new group is likely to be a central topic during the upcoming Interior Ministers’ Conference in Bremen.
Henrichmann expressed concern regarding the organization’s launch event and the apparent radical nature of its leadership. He stated that, pending a rigorous legal assessment, initiating a ban procedure against the AfD, bolstered by this new youth wing’s actions, would be justifiable. A failed legal challenge, he warned, would be “a Persil sheet” – a damaging endorsement – for a party perceived to harbor extremist sentiments.
The prospect of a ban hinges on Article 21 of the German Basic Law, which declares parties unconstitutional if their aims or the behavior of their supporters actively seek to undermine the democratic order or threaten the existence of the Federal Republic. Ultimately, the Federal Constitutional Court holds the authority to decide on such matters.
Alexander Throm, the CDU’s domestic policy spokesman for the conservative bloc, echoed Henrichmann’s concerns, highlighting the absence of any meaningful distancing from the AfD’s extremist past. He characterized “Generation Deutschland’s” efforts as a cynical attempt to cloak extremist ideologies within a more polished and palatable rhetoric, rather than demonstrating a genuine repudiation of previously held views.
Throm underscored that both the AfD and its new youth organization remain under scrutiny by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, solidifying the perception of “Generation Deutschland” as a dangerous and undemocratic entity. The development intensifies the pressure on security officials and lawmakers to rigorously evaluate the AfD’s trajectory and its potential threat to Germany’s democratic foundations.
