A public disagreement has intensified between prominent state-level politicians from the CDU and SPD parties concerning the possibility of banning the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Following Berlin’s Justice Senator Felor Badenberg’s (CDU) assessment earlier this week that a nationwide ban of the AfD would be unsuccessful, Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) has questioned her understanding of the issue. Maier, in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, suggested Badenberg lacks sufficient expertise, stating she claims there’s a deficiency in demonstrating the AfD’s deliberate and aggressive pursuit of its ideological agenda. He indicated she may not be sufficiently familiar with the party’s current activities.
This dispute between the two ministerial figures has escalated tensions within the governing coalition, already divided on the matter. The SPD recently advocated for the preparation of a ban procedure at its national party convention in late June. Despite resistance from the Union faction (CDU/CSU), Maier is pressing for a firm stance, arguing that the AfD demonstrably violates human dignity. He criticized the party’s definition of “Volk” (people), referring to a restricted view based on ethnicity and culture that inherently relegates others to a second-class status. He specifically noted that this definition could potentially impact individuals such as Badenberg herself, referencing her background as someone born in Iran who immigrated to Germany at a young age.
Maier considers the AfD a significant threat to Germany’s democracy, accusing the party of operating “destructively” within parliamentary settings. He alleges they denigrate fellow politicians, discredit courts and employ an “aggressive-combative” approach while spreading “large-scale conspiracy narratives” including those related to the alleged “Great Replacement” theory.
Earlier this week, Badenberg asserted that proving the level of coordinated and combative action against the liberal democratic basic order required for a successful ban is proving difficult.
