German Govt Threatens to Ban Surging AfD Party to 'Defend Democracy'

🇩🇪Germany is debating whether to ban the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the party surges to 21 per cent in the polls, amid warnings from intelligence officials that its members are becoming increasingly extreme https://t.co/70HTpWSHc9

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 13, 2023

As evidence for AfD’s rightwing extremism, der Spiegel writes: “AfD began campaigning against sanctions on Moscow and urging that cheap natural gas imports from Russia be continued. Once the invasion was launched, the AfD called for peace with Vladimir Putin.” Weird times. pic.twitter.com/0muCAx1RFO

— Max Abrahms (@MaxAbrahms) August 14, 2023

Germany considers ban on far-Right AfD

Call to 'defend democracy' as party surges to 21pc in opinion polls

By James Jackson | 13 August 2023 • 3:18pm

Germany is debating whether to ban the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the party surges to 21 per cent in the polls, amid warnings from intelligence officials that its members are becoming increasingly extreme.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, warned in a speech to the country's domestic intelligence agency that "we all have it in our hands to put those who despise our democracy in their place".

His speech at the castle where the German post-war constitution was created has widely been seen as support for a ban after Thomas Haldenwang, the domestic spy chief, warned about growing Right-wing extremist influence in the party.

Mr Haldenwang said: "We see a considerable number of protagonists in this party that spread hate against all types of minorities here in Germany."

It comes amid warnings of the increasing influence of Björn Höcke, the leader of the AfD in the eastern state of Thuringia.

Mr Höcke, a former history teacher, is known for his Hitler-esque language – with his allies sweeping the board for European lists at the party's conference in Magdeburg in August.

In a rare move, the respected Der Spiegel news magazine weighed into the debate with a leader titled: "Ban the enemies of the constitution!"

It warned that "the AfD has become more and more radicalised. It's time to defend democracy with better weapons".