Berlin: Demonstrators demand measures to ban the Alternative for Germany party – news.ORF.at

Yesterday evening, demonstrators in front of the Federal Chancellery in the German capital, Berlin, demanded a study of imposing a ban on the Alternative for Germany party. According to police, the number of participants was in the “low three-digit” range. The organizers said they were calling on the federal government, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat to study the ban on the AfD.

Climate activist Louisa Neubauer was also present at the demonstration. The banners read, among other things, “Democracy is in danger” and “Never again.” The impetus for the meeting was the announcement of a meeting of the right-wing scene in Potsdam and reports of extremist theses on immigration policy. Media company Correctiv first reported about it.

So far, the AfD has been classified as far-right by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in three East German states. In order to be banned, it must be proven that it is acting aggressively and combatively against the basic democratic system, that is, that it seeks to overthrow it. The federal government, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat can apply for a ban. The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe will decide this matter.

Steinmeier is skeptical

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier doubts the proposal to ban the Alternative for Germany party. “I cannot evaluate the chances of success, as the procedure will likely take a very long time,” Steinmeier said in an interview with the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

He advised holding a political discussion with the Alternative for Germany party. “We must provide better answers, and we must organize and strengthen democratic majorities.” In German history, extremists have always brought misfortune to the country.