A group of 113 members of the German parliament is planning to table a motion to ban the nationalist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), reports Die Zeit. The motion could be discussed in the Bundestag as early as next week.
The parliamentary group, which is mainly made up of members of the Greens, the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Christian Democrats (CDU), argues that the AfD’s agenda violates the German constitution and poses a threat to the country’s democratic order.
The motion was tabled in November and aims to initiate an injunction process against the AfD in the Federal Constitutional Court. Founded in 2013, the party currently enjoys around 20% support, putting it ahead of the SPD (16%) but behind the CDU (31%). The party was already classified as a “suspected” extremist organization by the German security services in 2021 due to its opposition to the current policy of population exchange.
CDU member Marco Wanderwitz, one of the initiators of the motion, calls for swift action against Alternative for Germany, citing the party’s alleged “further radicalization”. The group argues that AfD has questioned the human dignity and rights of migrants and LGBT people, and that there are therefore good reasons to ban the party.
Wanting a referendum on EU membership
Despite the AfD’s growing popularity – a December poll showed its leader Alice Weidel leading the polls to become the next chancellor – all established parties have ruled out any form of cooperation with the party, making it difficult for them to have real political influence.
Weidel, who was recently nominated as the AfD’s first candidate for chancellor, has pledged, among other things, to resume operation of the sabotaged Nord Stream gas pipelines, implement a much tougher immigration policy, launch comprehensive deportation programs and abolish “green” climate and energy initiatives if the party wins the election.
The AfD has also proposed a referendum on leaving the EU and the eurozone, and criticized Germany’s extensive military support for Ukraine and its membership of the US-led NATO military alliance.