SPD demands preparation of process to ban AfD

2025-06-30 08:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) congress also called for the AfD to be banned. Party leader Klingbeil spoke of a "historic task."

At the end of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) congress, the banning of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was discussed and demanded. In a vote, delegates expressed support for the necessary preparations to begin the process of banning the AfD. Party leader Klingbeil spoke of a "historic task."

At its congress in Berlin, the SPD clearly expressed its support for preparing procedures to ban the AfD. Delegates approved a motion from the party's executive committee calling for the creation of a federal-level working group to gather evidence of its unconstitutionality.

If sufficient evidence is found, the SPD will file a request for a ban with the Constitutional Court. During the previous debate, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil strongly supported fighting the AfD through legal means.

"It is our historic duty to get them out of parliaments again," he said. "Based on historical experience, we have a Constitution that provides the necessary means," Klingbeil said, referring to an impeachment procedure.

Lack of unity in the coalition

"It is our democratic duty to use these instruments to protect the constitution," said Klingbeil. The assessment of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is important for the disputes related to this eventual process.

"If they say: 'This is an extremist right-wing party,' then there should be no more maneuvering," Klingbeil demanded. He accused the CDU of maneuvering and unclear statements by some of its politicians. According to him, it is necessary to seriously prepare for the banning proceedings.

Calls for the initiation of ban proceedings against the AfD have become louder recently. The AfD is currently suing the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution against its classification as right-wing extremist.

There is no agreement within the coalition on the procedures for banning the AfD. The CDU rejects this approach and aims to fight the AfD politically. Especially in eastern Germany, where the AfD's voter base is particularly high, a ban is viewed critically.

High obstacles

The hurdles to banning a political party are very high. Following the SPD's decision, an inter-party working group will now first collect material to prove the AfD's unconstitutionality.

The party leadership has already stated that it is convinced that this will succeed. After that, a ban procedure will be mandatory. Right-wing extremism is the biggest threat to democracy in Germany.

The government, the Bundestag or the Bundesrat can initiate proceedings before the Constitutional Court. It must be proven that an influential party is acting aggressively and militantly against the basic democratic order. The report of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution on the AfD alone is not considered sufficient proof.

SPD leaders

Earlier in the congress, many other issues related to the country's future government were also debated. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz was greeted with the highest party honors, as was former SPD leader Saskia Esken. Both of them are leaving their party leadership positions.

The party leaders elected Lars Klingbeil (with only 65% ??of the vote) and Bärbel Bas (with an extraordinary majority of 95% of the delegates' votes) will now have to put the party back on track, as the SPD performed very poorly in the last election./ DW