Following a recent legal setback for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, members of the Green Party are urging expedited action towards a potential ban. The setback occurred Tuesday when the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig rejected an appeal by the AfD concerning their classification as a suspected right-wing extremist case.
Katharina Dröge, parliamentary group chair of the Green Party in the Bundestag, emphasized the need for a united front among democratic forces. In a statement to T-Online, Dröge declared that utilizing all legally permissible means to confront a party allegedly seeking to dismantle democratic principles is a “democratic duty.
The push for action stems from concerns regarding the lengthy legal process involved in definitively classifying a party as right-wing extremist. Dröge cautioned that such a determination, requiring rulings through all judicial instances, could take “years”. She argued that waiting for this protracted legal resolution is untenable.
The Green Party is advocating for the immediate establishment of a joint federal-state commission. This body would compile and analyze existing materials pertaining to the AfD already in the possession of authorities, potentially accelerating the process towards a formal ban. The urgency expressed reflects a desire to prevent the party from continuing operations while the legal challenges are ongoing and underscores the perceived threat to democratic stability. The current move does not concern the most recent classification of the AfD by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as verifiably right-wing extremist.
