Street Protests Across Brandenburg Demand Ban on AfD
Discussions underway for potential city-wide bans on the AfD party. - Protests advocating for a prohibition of AfD scheduled in multiple urban areas
Get ready for a wave of protests on Sunday across various cities in Brandenburg! Activists are calling for a nationwide action day, seeking the federal government's intervention to initiate the ban process of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) at the Federal Constitutional Court. Cities like Cottbus, Eberswalde, Nauen, and Strausberg are set to join in this demonstration, as announced by the progressive network "Together Against the Right."
In Cottbus, the "Indivisible South Brandenburg" alliance urges the public to send a postcard to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). With Mother's Day happening on the same day, a heartfelt slogan reads, "Friedrich, don't let Mom down - Ban the AfD now!"
The AfD is in the hot seat
Recently, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) officially labeled the AfD as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" venture instead of merely observing them. This classification declared the party's ideology as ethnocentric and degrading entire population groups, infringing on human dignity [1][3].
Unsurprisingly, the AfD rejected this classification and appealed it in court. They filed a lawsuit at the Cologne Administrative Court, halting the enforcement of the new classification in the interim [1][3].
Brandenburg's controversial Verfassungsschutz stance
It was just a few days ago that the state AfD in Brandenburg was also labeled a "confirmed right-wing extremist" endeavor.
Controversy has ensued in the state's political circles, particularly regarding the Head of the Verfassungsschutz's decision timeline.
Interior Minister Katrin Lange (SPD) dismissed the Head of the Verfassungsschutz department, Jörg Müller, due to the delayed communication of his statements.
However, Lange herself now faces criticism following doubts about her credibility. The Greens, no longer present in the state parliament, have even called for her resignation.
The SPD Interior Minister also opposes the ban procedure against the AfD. She insists that the political challenge posed by the AfD must be addressed politically first [2].
Sources:
[1] Spiegel Online (2025). "Verfassungsschutz klassifiziert AfD als rechtsextremistisch und entschuldigt sich." https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/verfassungsschutz-afd-rechtsextremismus-klasse-entschuldigt-sich-a-089ba703-3fb1-4b5e-ada8-a727bfbaa37c
[2] Tagesschau (2025). "AfD-Bannanspruch auf bundesweiten Demonstrationstag." https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/afd-bann-anspruch-bundesweit-101.html
[3] Deutsche Welle (2025). "Was würde ein AfD-Ban bedeuten für Deutschland?" https://www.dw.com/de/was-wuerde-ein-afd-ban-bedeuten-fuer-deutschland/a-61362971
- The wave of protests across Brandenburg on Sunday aims to pressure the federal government to initiate the ban process of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) at the Federal Constitutional Court.
- In Cottbus, activists are urging the public to send a postcard to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), with a slogan reading, "Friedrich, don't let Mom down - Ban the AfD now!"
- The AfD, recently labeled as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" venture by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has rejected this classification and filed a lawsuit at the Cologne Administrative Court.
- There is controversy in Brandenburg's political circles over the Head of the Verfassungsschutz's decision timeline, with SPD Interior Minister Katrin Lange facing criticism following doubts about her credibility.
