German civil society groups urge lawmakers to support AfD ban

BERLIN

Over 50 civil society groups in Germany on Monday urged lawmakers to back a motion in the Federal Parliament to initiate proceedings that could lead to banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Gathering under the campaign "Protect human dignity – ban AfD now," the organizations held a news conference outside the Federal Parliament building in Berlin, highlighting their concerns over the AfD's threats to Germany’s constitutional order.

Lukas Theune of the Republican Lawyers’ Association stressed the urgency of the matter, asserting that the AfD undermines human dignity, democracy, and the rule of law, while inciting public discord.

"The facts are on the table. From a legal standpoint, the time for this application has come," he stated, urging lawmakers to push for an investigation by the Constitutional Court into the AfD's constitutionality.

Wendelin Haag, president of the German Federal Youth Council, echoed the call, emphasizing that state mechanisms must be used to safeguard democratic principles.

"The Constitutional Court must now fulfill its duty and examine whether the AfD is unconstitutional," he said, accusing the party of using democratic tools to erode democracy from within.

The civil society organizations also issued a joint statement urging lawmakers to support the motion, which was submitted last month by 113 members of parliament from various parties.

They demanded that the process to ban the AfD be initiated before early general elections are held on Feb. 23.

In mid-November, the group of lawmakers formally requested the Constitutional Court to determine if the AfD violates Germany’s Basic Law.

However, the Federal Parliament has not yet scheduled a discussion on the motion.

Under German law, only the Federal Parliament, the Federal Council, or the Federal Government can submit an application to the Constitutional Court to ban a political party.