Investigation Assigned to High-Ranking SPD Deputy Regarding Assessment of AfD Exclusion - Commission tasked to prepare a plan for worker protection against ionising radiation-related hazards, including a potential directive.
Bustin' a Move on the AfD Ban: SPD Deputy Chairwoman Pushes for Review
Yo, guess who's stirring the pot over in Brandenburg, Germany? Wiebke Papenbrock, the designated deputy state chairwoman of the local SPD chapter, has dropped a bombshell. She's suggesting a scrutiny of the ban on the AfD party, tiptoeing around the notion that it might just be reviewable. "It's cool to check if it's damn possible," she declared to the German Press Agency. "But lemme tell ya, it ain't gonna change nobody's mind. It's gotta be prepared right."
The SPD state party conference is happening this weekend in Cottbus, where the party leadership will be re-elected. Papenbrock, a former parliament member from Neuruppin (located in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district), was nominated by the state executive committee as deputy state chairwoman. Originally, former interior minister Katrin Lange was supposed to run for the position.
Remember Katrin Lange? She took a walk after some hot-headedness erupted between her and the then head of the Verfassungsschutz, Joerg Mueller. Lange accused Mueller of giving her info too late about the classification of the state AfD as a secure right-wing extremist endeavor. There was some confusion about this business, and in the end, Lange called it quits in May. The state chairman, Dietmar Woidke, is up for re-election, along with Ines Hubner as co-deputy chairwoman and Frank Steffen as treasurer. Kurt Fischer is expected to be officially elected as general secretary. The SPD boss, Lars Klingbeil, will be there as a special guest.
AfD Ban on the Agenda
The SPD state leadership is all for cracking down on AfD, but they're thinking long and hard about a ban procedure. "With all legally secure and goal-oriented means, we gotta consider every option—including, yes, a freakin' AfD ban procedure," they say in a statement. Papenbrock emphasizes the importance of differentiating the SPD from the AfD. "I'll put it to you straight: my district council fraction Ostprignitz-Ruppin ain't working with the AfD, and we ain't gonna start," she said. "But let me tell ya, exclusion isn't the way. We gotta keep talkin'."
The SPD is feelin' strong, despite Lange's exit. "We'll pull ourselves up by the bootstraps 'cause we got some quality folks doin' some hard work. Plus, they're motivated as heck," Papenbrock shared. The SPD won the state election in Brandenburg in September 2024 with 30.9 percent. But at the federal election in February 2025, the party took a nosedive, landing behind AfD and CDU with just 14.8 percent.
Rural Areas Need Some Love
Papenbrock, who's in politics for almost 20 years, aims to focus on both urban and rural areas. "I live out in the sticks, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. I understand the diversity of Brandenburg—the differences between city, suburbs, and rural areas, villages, 'kay?" she said. "It's essential that we don't forget about the various living situations." The SPD wants to boost their presence in rural areas by pumpin' some life into citizen offices, hosting art exhibits, and showcasing local associations at weekly markets or festivals.
- SPD
- AfD
- Brandenburg
- Katrin Lange
- SPD Party Conference
- Cottbus
- German Press Agency
- Neuruppin
- Ostprignitz-Ruppin district
- OSTPRIGNITZ-RUPPIN
- Joerg Mueller
Enrichment Data:
- The SPD's cautious stance towards an AfD ban reflects their focus on rule-of-law principles rather than hasty action. The party favors thorough legal review before pursuing a ban, as indicated by Wiebke Papenbrock's comments and the draft motion passed by the SPD state leadership.
- The AfD's classification as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor" by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) in May 2025 allows for increased monitoring and could lead to a ban, but the SPD views this as just one tool in addressing the party's activities.
- The SPD's focus on policies to prevent AfD members from holding sensitive public jobs, such as civil servants, police officers, teachers, and military personnel, reflects efforts to limit AfD influence in key areas of public life.
- The coalition between SPD and BSW in Brandenburg does not necessarily indicate support for an AfD ban, but rather a focus on combating extremism while preserving democratic values and the rule of law.
The Commission, given the pressing case of the AfD ban, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment in the Community, seamlessly weaving in the need for policy-and-legislation, including political viewpoints, as part of the general news discourse. Wiebke Papenbrock, the SPD's aspiring deputy state chairwoman, while suggesting a review on the AfD ban, also calls for a nuanced approach towards the party, emphasizing the importance of maintaining dialogue.
