Incoming German Interior Minister Says "No Need to Ban AfD"
Alexander Dobrindt made his statements following the German domestic security service's official classification of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as “extremist.” Incoming German Interior Minister Dobrindt opposed a ban on...
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Alexander Dobrindt made his statements following the German domestic security service's official classification of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as “extremist.”
Incoming German Interior Minister Dobrindt opposed a ban on the AfD just days after the security service designated it a “confirmed extremist entity.” This sentiment has been shared by several other prominent center-right politicians.
The decision by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), announced last Friday, allows authorities to monitor the AfD's activities without restrictions. However, only the Federal Constitutional Court has the authority to declare a political party unconstitutional.
On Sunday, Dobrindt expressed his conviction to Germany’s ARD broadcaster, stating, “I am convinced that the AfD doesn’t have to be banned out of the way,” but should instead be relegated to insignificance through effective governance. He also emphasized the importance of open discussions regarding the reasons behind the AfD's rise in popularity.
In a recent snap election held in February, the AfD secured second place, trailing behind the center-right Christian Democrats. Current polling indicates a tight race between the two parties, with one survey from the Forsa Institute showing the AfD slightly ahead by one percentage point.
Dobrindt reiterated his stance on ZDF, asserting that a ban on the party would only serve to bolster its narratives.
In a weekend interview with Bild, CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann remarked that “most voters vote for the AfD out of protest,” noting that “you can’t ban protest.”
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann added that labeling an entity as extremist does not automatically justify an immediate ban. He criticized those politicians who have hastily called for the AfD to be banned even before the BfV releases its complete report on the party.
The BfV's decision last week was based on the perception of the “extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity,” along with its “prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent,” which is deemed “incompatible with the democratic basic order.”
Additionally, on Monday, dpa news agency reported that Daniel Tapp, a spokesperson for AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, announced that the party is filing a lawsuit against the BfV in the administrative court in Cologne.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
Incoming German Interior Minister Dobrindt opposed a ban on the AfD just days after the security service designated it a “confirmed extremist entity.” This sentiment has been shared by several other prominent center-right politicians.
The decision by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), announced last Friday, allows authorities to monitor the AfD's activities without restrictions. However, only the Federal Constitutional Court has the authority to declare a political party unconstitutional.
On Sunday, Dobrindt expressed his conviction to Germany’s ARD broadcaster, stating, “I am convinced that the AfD doesn’t have to be banned out of the way,” but should instead be relegated to insignificance through effective governance. He also emphasized the importance of open discussions regarding the reasons behind the AfD's rise in popularity.
In a recent snap election held in February, the AfD secured second place, trailing behind the center-right Christian Democrats. Current polling indicates a tight race between the two parties, with one survey from the Forsa Institute showing the AfD slightly ahead by one percentage point.
Dobrindt reiterated his stance on ZDF, asserting that a ban on the party would only serve to bolster its narratives.
In a weekend interview with Bild, CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann remarked that “most voters vote for the AfD out of protest,” noting that “you can’t ban protest.”
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann added that labeling an entity as extremist does not automatically justify an immediate ban. He criticized those politicians who have hastily called for the AfD to be banned even before the BfV releases its complete report on the party.
The BfV's decision last week was based on the perception of the “extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity,” along with its “prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent,” which is deemed “incompatible with the democratic basic order.”
Additionally, on Monday, dpa news agency reported that Daniel Tapp, a spokesperson for AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, announced that the party is filing a lawsuit against the BfV in the administrative court in Cologne.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
