Summary

Germany’s parliament will debate a proposed ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) for the first time next week.

The proposal cites the AfD’s increasing radicalism and historically revisionist statements, such as co-leader Alice Weidel’s claim that Hitler was a communist.

Under Germany’s constitution, a party ban requires proof of opposition to constitutional principles.

Critics warn that a ban could portray the AfD as martyrs.

The AfD currently polls in second place at 20% ahead of February elections.

  • 🦄🦄🦄@feddit.org
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    9 hours ago

    No it won’t. Banning them will defund them AND it bans any follow-up parties they would otherwise create.

    • SapphireSphinx@feddit.org
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      8 hours ago

      Banning them will defund them AND it bans any follow-up parties they would otherwise create.

      And it will finally end their constant appearance on television, where they can advertise Nazi crap.

    • pettend@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      But the afd voters won’t disappear. The problem is not the party, but the fact that millions vote for it. People have to be convinced not to vote for it.

      • UpperBroccoli@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        4 hours ago

        Believe it or not, they have always been there. The difference between the olden days and now is one of acceptance: In the olden days, most of these people voted conservative (CDU, CSU, FDP). They didn’t vote for straight-up fascist parties, because doing so was considered inacceptable by a huge part of the populace. What the AfD did was to shift the conversation further and further to the right, keep saying the unsayable and make it more and more “normal”. At the same time, the CDU under Merkel divorced itself from the extreme right by declaring themselves a party of the center, after silently accepting the fact they were the party of choice for a lot of people with fascist ideals for decades.

        What we as a society have to do is to say “STOP - this is not acceptable!”, and banishing the AfD is exactly that. I am not sure where the voters of the AfD will go instead, probably the BSW or some other shit party, but that is still a better option than a strong fascist party that keeps getting attention and keeps shifting the conversation to the right until we wake up and live in nazi germany once more.

      • Metz@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        One step after another. Right now the #1 priority is stopping the fucking facists from getting into power.

      • Wappen@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        I agree, the voters wouldn’t disappear but it would take time for them to find a new party to vote for. The time difference might be worth it.