A push to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is running out of steam, with just days left in this legislative period and no clear majority backing the motion. Sources close to the effort have confirmed the ban is unlikely to progress anytime soon.
The proposal, initially put forward by CDU MP Marco Wanderwitz, who has announced his retirement, will definitely not be presented this term, as confirmed by co-sponsor Carmen Wegge of the SPD in an interview with the Rheinische Post. Just a month ago, the motion seemed to have strong cross-party backing, with 105 MPs from various parties, including prominent Greens and SPD members, showing support.
However, the proposal has stalled. Both the CDU and SPD are now opposed, fearing that pushing for a ban could backfire, strengthening the AfD as elections loom in February. There are also concerns that any legal challenge, especially one involving the Constitutional Court, could drag on for years without success.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and CDU leader Friedrich Merz have both distanced themselves from backing the ban, though both have left open the possibility of supporting such an action down the line. Politicians in favor of banning the AfD continue to frame it as a matter of protecting democracy. Wegge, speaking about the motion, declared, “The AfD represents the greatest threat to our democracy,” despite the fact that the AfD has advocated for more direct democratic practices, such as nationwide referendums.
Meanwhile, the Greens are working on a less drastic approach that could be more likely to succeed, according to some MPs. However, any move to ban the AfD is complicated by the fact that the party is currently the second-largest in the country, with polling numbers hovering between 18 and 20 percent. A ban would undoubtedly be seen as a serious blow to democratic principles.
In short, efforts to remove the AfD through a ban are now facing significant hurdles, both politically and legally, with a growing concern that such actions could only serve to bolster the party’s support.
