Banning the German far-right AFD may backfire, the highest conservative warning
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's top Conservative Party said he had strong reservations about calls for banning German far-right alternatives (AFD) ahead of the nationwide rally in support of Sunday's measures.
Carsten Linnemann, Secretary General of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), described such a move as “highly politically dangerous.”
Linnemann said in an interview with Sunday’s edition of the Welt newspaper that leading legal experts believe that “in the current situation will be very difficult and the results will be uncertain.”
The AFD, Germany's largest opposition party, was designated earlier this month by the country's domestic intelligence agencies as a “confirmed right-wing extremist” group, an escalation of its previously classified as a “suspicious” threat.
But the agency — formally known as the Office of Constitutional Protection (BFV) — announced this week that the agency is suspending its decision, saying it will not use the new label until the agency resolves the AFD challenge for the name in court.
The name “confirmed” gives the authorities greater power to monitor the party.
These incidents have resumed discussions about illegal conferences known for anti-immigration and nationalist platforms.
'you Frustration cannot be forbidden'
Linnemann warned that the legal battle will be long and that the AFD may use the situation as a victim.
He argued that the ban did not help address the concerns of voters in the party.
He said the AFD would be greatly weakened if the new government restores its economy and intensifies efforts on illegal immigration.
“You can't forbidden frustration; you can only solve it through good politics,” he said.
National rally plan
His remarks emerged when civil society groups prepared a slogan “No more excuses – now banned AFD) on Sunday.
It is planned to hold a rally in more than 60 cities in Germany.
The coalition “co-oppose rights” and the “ban AFD NOW” campaign and other groups called on the Meltz government to take office on Tuesday to file an immediate legal action against the party.
The central rally in Berlin is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (GMT). Organizers asked the government to file an immediate lawsuit to ban AFD.
