Elizabeth Kaiser, the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany (SPD), defended the government’s considerations regarding a potential ban on the AfD party, asserting that the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), specifically Article 21, provides the explicit possibility to outlaw unconstitutional parties.Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” on Saturday, she emphasized that this measure is not merely a gesture to comfort sensitive individuals, but a genuine tool for protecting democracy.
Kaiser stated that the classification of several AfD state branches as right-wing extremism should raise alarm bells. She stressed that the constitutionality of these classifications would be determined by a court, not by a political party, describing this process as legitimate. Looking ahead to the local election campaign in the East, the SPD politician added that the AfD intentionally capitalizes on the biographical experiences of East Germans while simultaneously glorifying the past and clinging to outdated notions. She accused the party of catering to the wealthy while presenting itself as a defender of the common person-a combination of emotional appeal and populist behavior that has proven successful in the region.
Kaiser also noted that she does not anticipate the AfD achieving an absolute majority in either of the two target states. She cited Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as an example of focused investment: the state’s Minister-President, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), deliberately invested in the future, ensuring that shipyards under severe pressure were allocated new business areas and that jobs were secured, alongside investments in education. She noted that the state is strategically utilizing the special funds received from the federal government for “the right issues,” noting that this approach is yielding positive results, even in the polls.
