SPD, Greens and Left open to federal coercion against AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt
Quick Look
- In the event of an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt, the SPD, the Greens and the Left have spoken out in favor of using the federal obligation under Article 37 of the Basic Law.
- They demand the use of measures such as compulsory administration, funding cuts or federal police deployment in order to prevent unconstitutional actions.
- The Left criticizes the reaction as too late and is calling for party ban proceedings at the Federal Constitutional Court.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The federal obligation under Article 37 of the Basic Law allows the federal government to require a federal state to fulfill its obligations if it acts unconstitutionally. Measures range from compulsory administration to funding cuts to the deployment of the federal police. The AfD is seen as a potential governing party in Saxony-Anhalt after its top candidate Ulrich Siegmund announced the use of military weapons against citizens.
The SPD, the Greens and the Left have also shown themselves open to using so-called federal coercion in the event of an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt. The parties are “required to use all the instruments that the Basic Law provides for a defensive democracy,” said the parliamentary director of the Greens, Irene Mihalic, to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). This also includes the instrument proposed by Union faction leader Thorsten Frei (CDU).
The so-called federal obligation is regulated in Article 37 of the Basic Law and would make it possible to discipline an AfD state government that acts unconstitutionally. The options range from the compulsory administration of individual authorities and ministries to the reduction of federal funds to the deployment of the federal police. The federal government can “take the necessary measures” to “encourage a state to fulfill its obligations,” according to the Basic Law.
Mihalic justified her stance with recent statements by the AfD's top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt. "Ulrich Siegmund's announcement that he would use weapons of war against citizens of our country who do not fit into the AfD's ethnic worldview makes it clear once again that the AfD is an anti-constitutional party," said Mihalic. It is also urgently necessary to examine a ban on parties at the Federal Constitutional Court.
Left criticizes reaction too late
Dirk Wiese, the parliamentary manager of the SPD in the Bundestag, made similar comments. If the AfD and the BSW are to "help a right-wing extremist into the office of Prime Minister for the first time, it is good to know that the Basic Law provides options for forcing a federal state to act in accordance with the constitution by issuing instructions if necessary," he said.
The Left was also open to this, but considers the federal requirement and a federal-state working group to be inadequate. The measures currently being discussed “should have been decided and prepared long ago,” Bünger told the RND. "The federal government is in sleepwalking mode if it believes it can continue to discuss in working groups for another few months." It also called for a party ban to be examined.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The federal government will initiate party ban proceedings against the AfD at the Federal Constitutional Court.
Possible · Within months
In the case of an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt, federal coercion will be applied in the form of funding cuts or compulsory administration of individual authorities.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What concrete steps is the federal government planning in the event of an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt?
- How likely is it that the AfD will actually form the government in Saxony-Anhalt?
- What legal hurdles exist for the application of federal coercion?
- How would other federal states react to federal coercion against Saxony-Anhalt?