North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is calling for a federal-state working group on the constitutional handling of the AfD and possible consequences. This review must be open-ended and should not automatically lead to a ban, said the CDU politician.
“I warn against taking quick action when it comes to banning the AfD, because banning a political party can only be the last resort if we want to protect our constitution,” Wüst told X. He explained: “There must now be a structure in which these questions are examined carefully, professionally and seriously by the federal and state governments.”
From the point of view of the NRW head of government, the working group should include the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, but also constitutional lawyers and other experts from the federal and state governments. “The overall question is how the state deals constitutionally with a party that pursues anti-constitutional goals, at least in individual federal states,” said the CDU politician.
Söder warns of martyr status for the AfD
CSU leader Markus Söder reacted skeptically to the move: “Despite all the fundamental understanding that one would prefer this AfD not to be there, the reality is that it is hardly constitutionally enforceable,” he said after a cabinet meeting in Munich. In addition to a year-long process, there is a risk that the AfD will acquire a new martyr status. The AfD must be given content.
The CSU will not fundamentally close itself to discussions in a federal-state group, “but that is nothing other than an expression of uncertainty,” emphasized Söder. “In a democracy you have to work with democratic means and the democratic way means preparing for the next elections differently than in Saxony-Anhalt, finding clearer arguments.” The CSU does not believe that a ban procedure would work.
On Monday evening, according to reports from “Politico” and “Welt”, Wüst brought up the idea of a working group at a talk event with economist Maja Göpel in Berlin. “I said something today that I don’t think any CDU person has said publicly before: that I am in favor of setting up this working group that will then do this work,” Wüst was quoted as saying.
Wüst also spoke on stage at Deutsche Telekom's “Digital X” digital trade fair on Tuesday morning about the AfD and the consequences of the Saxony-Anhalt election. He warned against the idea that the AfD could disenchant itself. Rather, an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt would have important control levers: "Every week in state cabinets in Germany, the leadership of the police and the leadership of the courts are appointed. The core of this state's monopoly on violence lies in the states."
Individual AfD state associations - including Saxony-Anhalt - are classified as definitely right-wing extremist by the respective state Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Only the Bundestag, the Bundesrat or the Federal Government can submit an application for a party ban to the Federal Constitutional Court. The decision then lies with the Federal Constitutional Court.
AfD finds working group banning parties ridiculous
The parliamentary director of the AfD had sharply criticized Wüst's proposal to examine a party ban procedure. “I laugh about that, but really,” the AfD politician said on WELT TV’s “Voice am Morning” program. This “just shows the desperation of these supporters within the CDU from the left and left-green”. From his point of view, the initiative is a “revelation of parts of the CDU as a politically serious organization”.
AfD party leader Alice Weidel made a similar statement: "I had to laugh when I read that Mr. Wüst is actually aiming for this working group to ban the Alternative for Germany. What can you say about that?" she said in an interview with WELT TV. It says something more about Mr. Wüst and his understanding of democracy than about the AfD. "That seems to go hand in hand with the disastrous election results. You have to quickly want to ban the strongest force. So, I hope you enjoy it."
