German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Photo: Thomas Koehler / bundesfinanzministerium.de
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he does not support the ban on the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), DPA reports. Scholz stressed the importance of further monitoring of the party by domestic intelligence services, but warned against hasty actions that could have undesirable consequences.
“The worst thing that could happen is a ban procedure that we start but that ends up being unsuccessful,” Scholz said at a meeting with his constituents in Potsdam, near Berlin.
The context of a possible ban decision
The German parliament provides that both the government and the parliament can initiate a ban on a political party by applying to the Federal Constitutional Court.
In early November, more than 100 MPs from different parties in the Bundestag submitted a request to consider banning the AfD. However, it is not yet clear whether this initiative will receive the support of the majority of parliamentarians.
At the same time, 17 constitutional law experts sent an open letter to the Bundestag’s legal and international affairs committees. In the document, they expressed confidence that the ban procedure has prospects of success.
Why is the AfD under scrutiny?
“The Alternative for Germany is known for its nationalist, anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic rhetoric, which often draws criticism from politicians and NGOs. At the same time, the party is steadily gaining popularity in some regions of the country, challenging Germany’s traditional political structure.
Scholz, commenting on the possibility of a ban, called for a cautious approach, stressing the importance of legal diligence and preventing the failure of such a step.
