German Politicians Seek AfD Ban As Party Gains Support

Germany’s political establishment is scrambling to shut down Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as the party gains ground with voters. A debate in the Bundestag on Thursday examined whether legal steps should be taken to declare AfD unconstitutional, a move critics say exposes how little tolerance remains for political opposition in the country.

A total of 113 lawmakers from different parties, including the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and Die Linke, have pushed for a constitutional court review of AfD. They argue the party promotes nationalist ideals that threaten Germany’s democratic order. However, legal experts have noted that a political ban requires clear proof of anti-democratic behavior, a threshold AfD has not crossed.

The rising support for AfD comes as dissatisfaction grows with the government’s handling of immigration and economic issues. Many voters see AfD as one of the few parties willing to challenge policies they believe have weakened the country. Despite increasing scrutiny and attempts to curb its influence, AfD continues to gain traction in national polls.

The debate over AfD coincides with controversy surrounding CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who accepted AfD votes in parliament to pass a stricter immigration measure. His decision broke with a long-standing political tradition of refusing to cooperate with the party. Chancellor Olaf Scholz quickly condemned the move, accusing Merz of undermining Germany’s political institutions.

In Berlin, left-wing activists took to the streets, calling for both AfD and CDU to be banned. Meanwhile, Green Party leaders have urged their members to cut off any political ties with CDU, warning that the party’s willingness to accept AfD votes could signal a shift in the political landscape.

Polls show CDU holding at 29% while AfD has surged to 23%. Scholz’s SPD has dropped to 15%, signaling a changing political mood in Germany. With establishment parties working to suppress AfD’s rise, the debate over the party’s future is far from over.