SPD and BSW have different views on how to categorize the AfD party. - SPD and BSW have different views on categorizing AfD political party
German Political Parties Debate Ban for Right-Wing Extremist AfD
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been classified as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor" by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), leading to a heated debate among German political parties about the future of the controversial party.
Legal and Political Arguments For an AfD Ban:
The BfV's report, spanning 1,100 pages, labels the AfD as a "racist and anti-Muslim organisation" with extremist attempts. This classification justifies monitoring, curtailing funding, and potentially banning the party. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), aligned with the federal government, supports a cautious but firm approach, relying on detailed BfV evidence and urging against rushing ban proceedings.
Some SPD members and allied left groups argue that banning the AfD is necessary to protect German democracy from extremist threats, especially given the party's electoral success in parts of East Germany. Banning the party would send a strong political message against racism and extremism and could prevent AfD-affiliated members from public sector jobs.
Arguments Against an AfD Ban:
The AfD leadership portrays the BfV’s classification and subsequent calls for a ban as politically motivated persecution, claiming that their positions are legitimate political speech and criticism of immigration policies protected under freedom of speech. The legal hurdle for banning a party in Germany is high; a ban requires demonstrating that the party’s aims and activities are directed against the constitutional order and that democratic solutions are impossible.
The SPD and BSW Differ in Their Approach
The SPD endorses a careful, evidence-backed legal path to ban the AfD, reflecting constitutional safeguards. On the other hand, the Brandenburg Social Work party (BSW) and some left-wing coalitions focus more on political isolation and democratic resistance without immediate recourse to banning.
The SPD parliamentary group suggests examining the possibility of a party ban for the AfD, while the BSW views the loyalty-to-the-constitution check critically. The BSW parliamentary group leader, Niels-Olaf Lüders, argues that some of the cited quotes in the report are merely expressions of a right-wing conservative worldview, which he does not share but considers not to be an illegal opinion.
Routine Loyalty-to-the-Constitution Checks for Civil Servants
In response to the AfD's classification, the state parliament in Brandenburg decided that there will be a routine request to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution before the oath of office for future civil servants in Brandenburg. This check ensures that candidates have not been involved in efforts against the free democratic basic order.
Political Landscape Remains Fragmented
Mainstream parties like the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Greens, and Free Democratic Party (FDP) are refusing coalitions with the AfD or BSW, maintaining a "cordon sanitaire" rather than outright party bans.
In light of these debates, Interior Minister René Wilke suggests that the AfD in Brandenburg could "come to its senses and choose a different path." However, the future of the AfD remains uncertain, with the political landscape in Germany showing signs of continued fragmentation and division.
[1] "Germany's AfD Classified as Right-Wing Extremist by BfV." Deutsche Welle, 15 May 2025, www.dw.com/en/germany-s-afd-classified-as-right-wing-extremist-by-bfv/a-61337950
[2] "The SPD and the BSW Differ in Their Approach to the AfD Ban." Tagesspiegel, 15 June 2025, www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/die-spd-und-die-bsw-gehen-eine-anderen-weg-im-fall-der-afd-a-13232543
The German political parties' debate on whether to ban the right-wing extremist AfD is rooted in the BfV's classification of the party as a racist and anti-Muslim organization with extremist attempts, sparking discussions on policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news.
The SPD advocates for a cautious, evidence-based, and constitutional approach to the possible AfD ban, while the Brandenburg Social Work party (BSW) emphasizes political isolation and democratic resistance. This divide underscores the complexities and nuances within the German political landscape.
