The call comes as the right-wing party leads national polls, with support more than twice that of the SPD<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has called for a formal review that could pave the way for a ban on Alternative for Germany (AfD), as the right-wing party leads national polls following major regional election victories.
\nThe push follows the AfD\u2019s sweeping victories in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania earlier this month, where it secured 43.8% and 38.2%, respectively. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz\u2019s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered heavy losses, including failing to clear the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
\nOn Tuesday, SPD parliamentary leaders from the Bundestag, Germany\u2019s state legislatures and the European Parliament wrapped up a two-day summit in Bremen by again labeling the AfD a \u201cright-wing extremist party.\u201d They accused it of threatening democracy \u201cfrom within\u201d and \u201cnormalizing racism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
AfD is Germany\u2019s new \u2018people\u2019s party\u2019 \u2013 co-leader<\/p>\n
The AfD has rejected accusations of extremism. Responding to a parallel push for a potential ban in Hamburg this week, AfD parliamentary leader Dirk Nockemann called it an \u201cattack on democracy and the will of the voters\u201d and dismissed the proposed working group as \u201cdesperate.\u201d
\nThe Eurosceptic party advocates tougher immigration controls and opposes Berlin\u2019s support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
\nAt the federal level, the AfD remains classified by Germany\u2019s domestic intelligence agency as a suspected right-wing extremist organization.In February, a Cologne court blocked an attempt by the agency to upgrade the AfD to confirmed right-wing extremist status, pending the outcome of the main proceedings. Several AfD state branches carry the stronger classification.
\nThe SPD wants federal and state governments to set up a joint working group by year-end to examine whether legal grounds exist to seek a ban. Launching the review \u201cis a legal necessity\u201d and a \u201cdemocratic duty,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Merz government wants \u2018secret police\u2019 \u2013 opposition<\/p>\n
Merz himself has expressed skepticism about pursuing a ban. Earlier this month, the chancellor said the legal hurdle was \u201cvery high\u201d and argued that outlawing the AfD would not solve the problems its voters believe they face.
\nUnder German law, only the Federal Constitutional Court can outlaw a party. A ban requires more than anti-constitutional views: a party must actively seek to undermine the democratic order and have the potential to achieve its aims.
\nThe push comes as the AfD has opened up a record polling lead over Merz\u2019s CDU\/CSU bloc. An INSA survey put the AfD at 29.5%, compared with 19% for the CDU\/CSU and just 14.5% for the SPD. The two governing parties together stood at 33.5%, only four points ahead of the AfD alone.
\nAfD co-leader Alice Weidel reacted to the poll by accusing the CDU of \u201cclinging to the undemocratic firewall,\u201d saying the policy was ultimately \u201cdestroying Germany.\u201d The \u2018firewall\u2019 refers to the refusal by other major German parties to cooperate with the AfD.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The call comes as the right-wing party leads national polls, with support more than twice that of the SPD Germany\u2019s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has called for a formal review…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39104,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t