AfD ban? Bundestag debates on the application by MPs

Three and a half weeks before the new election of the Bundestag, the MPs debate about a ban on the AfD. The occasion is a group application cross -faction, which more than 120 parliamentarians have joined. You want the Bundestag to apply for a ban on parties to the Federal Constitutional Court. Critics consider the project to be overwhelmed and first want to commission an expert opinion that checks a possible unconstitutionality of the AfD.

The time for the project is just a few weeks before the new election. According to surveys, the AfD could double its seat and thus make a majority less likely. The AfD Federal Association is classified by the protection of the constitution as right-wing extremist. In current surveys, the party with an approval value of around 20 percent is the second strongest force behind the Union.

“If we do not succeed in sight, then we can basically raise the white flag,” said CDU politician Marco Wanderwitz on Deutschlandfunk last week. “I don’t think much more about what you can do.” Wanderwitz is one of the initiators of the group application.

A party ban can be requested by the Bundestag, Federal Council or the Federal Government from the Federal Constitutional Court. With its template, the cross -party group wants to achieve a corresponding Bundestag decision. The judges in Karlsruhe would then check whether the AfD is unconstitutional according to Article 21 of the Basic Law.

Another application will be dealt with on Thursday, which is supported by Greens MPs around Renate Künast. He does not provide a direct application for a ban procedure in Karlsruhe, but initially requires an examination of the chances of success by an expert. Only then should the Bundestag decide on the possible initiation of a prohibition procedure.