Approval granted by the European Parliament for the report
Inthe run-up to the 2025 local elections in Munster, a coalition of democratic parties has distanced themselves from the extreme-right AfD. The statement was signed by Alliance 90/The Greens, SPD, The Left, Volt, The PARTY, and ODP, with CDU and FDP choosing not to join. The move comes after the AfD was classified as a "proven right-wing extremist" by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
These parties refuse to share a platform with the AfD, stating that they refuse to sit alongside a proven extremist party. The AfD poses a threat to democracy, and granting it legitimacy through joint appearances is considered unwise. While the factions support open, respectful debate, the AfD's history of instrumentalizing debates and spreading destructive, provocative, and hateful content makes such discussions problematic.
Despite this stance, the parties emphasize their willingness to engage in dialogue. They thank those who organize debates and discussion events and offer their support but under one condition: If the AfD is involved, they will withdraw their participation.
The parties call on all democrats to take a stand, especially during the campaign. Democracy thrives on engaged discussions but also requires a clear stance against extremist tendencies. The city of Munster has consistently shown its stance against the AfD, with the party receiving minimal support in past elections and facing challenges in finding event venues.
In educational institutions, discussions involving the AfD have been canceled due to concerns about peace. The Education and Science Union warns against giving the AfD a platform for hateful content. The parties' joint declaration not only sets a line for the municipal election campaign but also sends a powerful message beyond Munster. The reaction of other political actors, institutions, and civil society groups to this initiative remains to be seen.
While specific statements from the Munster city council regarding the AfD's local election activities are not detailed in the available sources, the broader national context shows democratic parties consistently opposing the AfD's policies and rhetoric. It is reasonable to infer that Münster's democratic city council members would align with this sentiment, emphasizing a commitment to democracy and opposing the far-right positions of the AfD.
The parties emphasize their refusal to share a platform with the AfD, citing concerns about the party's extremist nature and problematic history of spreading hateful content. Despite this stance, they remain open to engaging in dialogue with other parties, but only under the condition that the AfD is absent from the discussions. The joint declaration sends a powerful message, demonstrating a commitment to democracy and a clear stance against extremist tendencies, not just within Munster, but nationally as well.
