SPD Party Conference: Discussing Possible AfD Ban Amid Extremist Classification
SPD Vice-Chairman Tasked with Evaluating Potential Ban of AfD Party - Workers may now be protected from radiation hazards, as the Commission has been tasked with drafting a directive on mitigating the risks associated with ionising radiation exposure.
Let's get down to it:
The designated deputy state chairwoman of Brandenburg's SPD, Wiebke Papenbrock, is all for scrutinizing the AfD's (Alternative for Germany) potential ban. "Time to check the feasibility of a ban procedure," she said bluntly to the German Press Agency. "It won't change minds, but let's see if it's doable. It needs to be well-planned, though."
With the SPD state party conference this Saturday inCottbus, the party leadership will be re-elected. Papenbrock, an ex-federal MP from Neuruppin (Ostprignitz-Ruppin district), has been nominated as deputy state chairwoman by the state executive committee—a position Katrin Lange was initially vying for. Lange, you'll remember, stepped down in May due to a dispute over the then head of the constitutional protection office, Joerg Mueller. Muneller, it seems, wasn't forthcoming about the AfD's classification as a right-wing extremist endeavor, stirring doubts.
Moving ahead, the re-election of Minister President Dietmar Woidke as state chairman is anticipated. Alongside, Ines Hubner and Frank Steffen are nominated again as co-deputy chairwoman and treasurer, respectively. Kurt Fischer will officially become general secretary, and Lars Klingbeil (SPD federal chairman) is expected to grace the event as a guest.
Adding fuel to the fire, the party conference will be a platform for discussing the AfD ban. The SPD state leadership agrees that a ban procedure is necessary. "In this climate, all legally secure and goal-oriented measures should be considered—including an AfD ban procedure," they say in a motion. According to Papenbrock, distancing themselves from the AfD is crucial. "I can confidently say: the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district council and I do not work with the AfD and we won't in the future," she declared. But total exclusion, she believes, isn't the solution. Dialogue, she insists, is essential.
Papenbrock feels hopeful about the SPD despite Lange's resignation. "We draw courage from the fact that there are great people doing good work and who are also tremendously motivated," she said. In the September 2024 state election, the SPD nabbed 30.9% of votes. However, the party faltered in the February 2025 federal election, slipping to 14.8% behind the AfD and the CDU.
With nearly 20 years in politics under her belt, Papenbrock aims to focus on both urban and rural areas. "I reside in a rural part of Brandenburg and understand the differences Brandenburg has between city, urban zones, and rural regions, villages," she stated. "It's crucial that we have various life contexts in view." The SPD seeks to increase its presence in rural areas. Papershops could liven up with exhibitions or local associations could fly their flags at weekly markets or city festivals.
The Commission, alongside the SPD Party, is also expected to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment in the Community, as discussions on policy-and-legislation and politics are not confined to the ban of extremist parties. The AfD ban discourse at the SPD state party conference this Saturday in Cottbus extends to broader issues, including tackling environmental concerns and fostering dialogue towards a sustainable future.
