Massive Protests Sweep Germany, Calling for Ban on Far-Right AfD Party
Germany witnessed an unprecedented wave of protests this weekend as citizens took to the streets to call for a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The demonstrations were triggered by a recent report revealing that AfD members had discussed plans for mass deportations. The revelations served as a wake-up call for Germans opposing the group, leading an estimated 1.4 million people to brave the bitter January temperatures and demand action.
The protests, which took place in cities across the country, saw an overwhelming turnout, with Hamburg and Munich experiencing larger crowds than anticipated. Aerial images showcased masses of people filling city squares and avenues, demonstrating the widespread opposition to the AfD. In Berlin alone, some 100,000 individuals gathered on the lawns of the Reichstag, Germany’s lower house of parliament.
The placards at the protests emphasized Germany’s unique responsibility to stand up against the far right, given the country’s dark history under Nazi rule. Banners reading “Never again is now” and “Now we can see what we would have done in our grandparents’ position” reflected the determination of the protesters to prevent history from repeating itself.
The investigative report that sparked the protests revealed that AfD members had met with far-right extremists in Potsdam to discuss a “remigration” plan in case the AfD came to power. The plan, proposed by Martin Sellner, leader of the Austrian “Identitarian Movement,” aimed to reverse the settlement of foreigners in Germany. The report also mentioned discussions about sending people to a “model state” in North Africa, reminiscent of a Nazi plan from 1940 to deport millions of Jews to Madagascar.
With less than six months until the European parliamentary elections, the AfD continues to maintain its hold on second position in national polls. The party’s rising popularity has fueled concerns among voters, leading to calls for a ban before the upcoming regional elections in Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia. The AfD is currently polling as the strongest party in these states, further intensifying the urgency to take action.
The extremist plans discussed in Potsdam have been strongly condemned by leading legal organizations in Germany. They warned that the meeting should not turn into a “second Wannsee Conference,” referring to the 1942 meeting where senior Nazi officials formulated the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” The organizations emphasized the need to prevent the legal legitimacy of such mass deportation fantasies through all available means.
While cautioning against direct comparisons with the Wannsee Conference, Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, acknowledged that the meeting in Potsdam revealed a brutality in thinking that threatens the foundations of democratic society. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the far-right meeting, stating that any plan to expel immigrants or citizens is an attack on democracy itself.
The AfD is considered “right extremist” by domestic intelligence services in three of Germany’s 16 states. However, banning the party is a challenging task due to the high legal hurdles involved. Germany’s constitution allows for party bans if they seek to undermine or abolish the free democratic basic order. The country’s constitutional court has only banned two parties so far: the Socialist Reich Party in 1952 and the Communist Party of Germany in 1956. In 2017, the court ruled that the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD) was too insignificant to prohibit, despite meeting the ideological criteria for a ban.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has not ruled out the possibility of banning the AfD, despite acknowledging the high hurdles involved. She described it as a “constitutional last resort” and emphasized that democratic parties should first address the content of the AfD. However, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann expressed skepticism about pursuing a ban, highlighting the need for certainty in the success of such a procedure to avoid providing a PR victory for the AfD.
The revelations from Potsdam have also prompted a shift in rhetoric among leading German CEOs. Lars Redeligx, CEO of Düsseldorf Airport, spoke out against the extremist plans, stating that they pose a threat to Germany as an economic location and undermine peaceful coexistence and prosperity. Concerns have been raised that Germany’s image as an attractive destination for foreign investment and skilled workers could be jeopardized at a time when an aging population and a shortage of domestic skilled workers are hindering growth.
The AfD has dismissed calls for its prohibition as undemocratic and attempted to downplay the significance of the Potsdam meeting. Party co-leader Alice Weidel accused Correctiv, the organization behind the investigative report, of infiltrating and spying on the private meeting using secret service methods. However, the overwhelming turnout at the protests indicates that a significant portion of the German population is deeply concerned about the rise of the far right and is demanding action.
These protests mark a significant moment in Germany