What to do with an anti-democratic party?
#343
My Dear Friend of Democracy,
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), the leading party in Germany's polls, has been classified by the domestic intelligence service (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution > Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz) as "certainly right-wing extremist."
The party pursues efforts directed against the free democratic basic order, the intelligence service said in a press release (only in German).
It is both shameful and frightening that the rise of an extremist party is happening in a country that has brought, like no other country in Europe, destruction and death to the continent.
That was less than a century ago.
But the intelligence service report also shows something else, something positive: that institutions in Germany are finding clear language.
Perhaps this language will also lead to a ban on the AfD.
The Federal Republic of Germany has learned from the Weimar Republic.
Germany’s constitution, which is designed to prevent a repeat of Nazi rule, allows for bans on political parties that attempt to use democratic means to subvert democracy. Any party that seeks to undermine the “free democratic basic order” can therefore be banned.
The Verfassungsschutz has now stated exactly that.
But it is not the Verfassungsschutz that will decide on a ban on the AfD, but the highest court in Germany, the Constitutional Court. And only if a corresponding application has been submitted to the court. Only the Federal Government, the Bundestag, or the Bundesrat can apply to ban a nationally organized party.
So far, no majorities have been found for this.
That could change now.
Would such a ban proposal be a good thing?
It would give the AfD an additional opportunity to portray itself as the victim.
On the other hand, it could ban a party that is perhaps the most dangerous to German democracy since Hitler's NSDAP.
✊ The constitution of German democracy was designed to combat the enemies of democracy. Let us utilize this capability.
See you in Democracy,
Johannes
Related: Right-wing extremism in Germany (BUNDESAMT FÜR VERFASSUNGSSCHUTZ)