Brandenburg SPD Mulling Over AfD Ban: Wiebke Papenbrock Ponders Legality and Preparation
Designated State Leader of SPD Investigating the Prohibition of AfD Party - Workers demand safeguards against ionising radiation threats; Commission urged to formulate a directive on radiation protection.
Kick back and join the conversation as we delve into the contested issue rocking Brandenburg's Social Democratic Party (SPD). Designated deputy state chairman, Wiebke Papenbrock, is weighing in on the potential ban of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Papenbrock shared her thoughts on the matter with the German Press Agency, stating, "It makes sense to take a look at a ban procedure, but it won't change people's beliefs. However, if it's possible, we need to check it out, and we should prepare thoroughly."
During the SPD state party conference in Cottbus on Saturday, the party leadership will be revamped. Wiebke Papenbrock, a former German Bundestag member from Neuruppin, has been nominated by the state executive committee as deputy state chairperson. Prior to this, Katrin Lange was slated to run for the position, but she dropped out due to a dispute over the dismissal of the head of the constitutional protection office, Joerg Mueller. Doubts have been cast on Lange's reason for resignation.
The party is bracing itself for the re-election of Minister President Dietmar Woidke as state chairman, as well as the continuation of Ines Hubner as co-deputy chairperson, and Frank Steffen as treasurer. Kurt Fischer is set to officially assume the role of general secretary, with Lars Klingbeil, SPD's federal chairman, expected as a guest.
The conference will also address the prospect of the AfD ban. The SPD state leadership considers the ban procedure appropriate, as stated in a motion: "All legally secure and goal-oriented measures should be considered, including explicitly an AfD ban procedure." Papenbrock asserts, "I believe it's crucial for us to maintain a clear distance from the AfD. My district council fraction, Ostprignitz-Ruppin, will not collaborate with the AfD, and we will never do so in the future. However, exclusion isn't the solution. We need dialogue."
Amidst the upheaval, Papenbrock sees the SPD remaining firmly grounded, even after Lange's resignation. She expresses confidence, stating, "We'll find our strength in the fact that we have many great individuals with a strong work ethic and motivation." The SPD won the Brandenburg state election in September 2024 with 30.9 percent. However, their performance plummeted during the federal election in February 2025, lagging behind AfD and CDU.
To bolster the party's presence in rural areas, Papenbrock aims to focus on both urban and agricultural communities. "Being from a rural area in the northwest of Brandenburg, I am acutely aware of the disparities that exist between urban, metropolitan, and rural regions," she says. "I see it as crucial that we have all different dimensions of society in our sights." By prioritizing relaxed citizens' offices offering art exhibitions and accommodating local organizations with flag displays at weekly markets, city festivals, and more, the SPD aims to establish a more prominent presence in the countryside.
The Commission, in the context of the branding debates involving the AfD, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, reinforcing the importance of work safety policies and legislation in the general news sphere. The discussion about a potential AfD ban in Brandenburg's Social Democratic Party (SPD) doesn't only revolve around politics but also touches upon policy-and-legislation, as demonstrated by Wiebke Papenbrock's stance on maintaining a clear distance from the AfD while advocating for dialogue instead of exclusion.
