Eva Umlauf, a Holocaust survivor and the president of the International Auschwitz Committee, has urged the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), to support procedures aimed at banning the AfD party.
In a letter addressed to Wüst, Umlauf referenced his visit to Auschwitz in May-the very place where she nearly perished as a child. She reminded him of his statement during that visit: “Memory without consequence remains mere gesture.” She now calls on him to translate those words into concrete actions. Although she would like him to act “immediately,” she acknowledged that he had indicated that a joint working group comprising federal and state authorities would first be necessary to gather and evaluate the findings.
Referencing the AfD’s electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt, the Holocaust survivor drew a stark historical parallel: the NSDAP had also formed its first regional government in the former free state of Anhalt. Eight months later, Hitler became Chancellor. While she stressed she did not mean to imply a repeat of history, she admitted that “what is happening today awakens the worst memories” in her.
The primary source of her concern lies in the AfD’s policies in Saxony-Anhalt, specifically plans that propose placing refugee children in special classes and removing children with disabilities from regular settings, thereby dismantling inclusion efforts. She describes the party’s resettlement plans as fundamentally “contrary to the constitution and human dignity.”
To address this growing threat, Umlauf laid out three key steps for Wüst. First, she requested that he immediately work to initiate the banning procedure, perhaps by using his role as chair of the Ministerial Conference in October to place the issue on the agenda. Second, she asked him to engage with citizens in Saxony-Anhalt who are experiencing fear; she extended an invitation for a personal meeting in Munich, noting, “I cook coffee, and we will take the time it takes.” Third, she called on Wüst to advocate for support for this initiative within the Federal Council (Bundesrat).
Umlauf concluded by stating that ultimately, the Federal Constitutional Court will decide on the AfD’s constitutionality. However, if the court determines the party could be banned, she noted that this would constitute a “directive for you to protect the Constitution.” She added a poignant warning: “Many witnesses will soon no longer be here to remind and warn. That is why I ask you today: Take the responsibility that we will soon have to give up.”
(The constitutional framework clarifies that parties are deemed unconstitutional if their goals or the behavior of their members aim to impair or abolish the liberal democratic basic order, as defined by Article 21 of the Basic Law. Although the Federal Constitutional Court makes the final ruling, it requires an official mandate from the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, or the Federal Government to begin its review.)
