Good call about not banning it because it’s too popular. Just ignore it and wait for people to come to their senses on logic.
It worked to stop Trump in the US.
/s
Last time the reason was they are too small to ban. Now they are too large?
Banning political parties in democracy has always been a very sketchy and mine-fielded thing. Everyone is obviously shitting bricks up there making these decisions. What if half the population decides you’re taking away their democracy, leading to brutal protests?
What if half the population decides you’re taking away their democracy, leading to brutal protests?
Yeah, no that won’t happen. But it will lead to other European countries, particularly the East, to question their ties to Germany if they do that.
I don’t fully understand what you meant by allies in east questioning their ties if Germany does that. You mean Russia? No one outside Germany in the east really supports AfD since they’re anti-EU and very mixed about support towards Russia (there should be none, zero)
EDIT: I’m from East Europe. My country leans left and was amongst the most progressive in the world when it comes to gender equality and rights.
Banning a small party would be politically damaging, banning a big party would be institutionally damaging.
You know what else is institutionally damaging?
Right-wing populist rule.
I guess the Nazis have arrived to downvote this fact.
This has been Germany’s strategy wrt far-right populism for decades.
It worked really well to stop them.
/s
It actually kind of works, if you compare how Germany is doing with the rest of the “western” world, it’s not worse than most.
‘Successful’ in the very narrow sense that it would be legal to do so. But not successful in actually changing anyone’s politics or the material conditions that give rise to the AfD.
Deplatforming works.
Fascists are not permitted a place in democracy as they are anti-democratic. It’s a simple principle that is part of what the German constitution is founded on. Letting them continue while the complex topics they propose simplistic fascist solutions for are addressed, is not an option.
It’s not a silver bullet but it definitely works
No one thinks it will suddenly change the poltical views of all their voters. The AfD will no longer sit in every TV show spouting their bullshit. They will not get millions and millions of public money. And they will not become our government. That’s not a narrow success - that would be huge.
the material conditions that give rise to the AfD
This here. Thatcherism, Schröderism, Reaganism - libertarianism, austerity narratives & politics, “lobbyism” aka pro-billionaire politics aka taking legal bribes - they all helped advance far-right populism to the mainstream.
Plus most other (not even necessarily right-wing) parties helping them along by pointing the finger in the wrong direction: immigrants.
This is what I was getting at in my comment. There’s got to be an alternative that addresses those material conditions to durably prevent a right resurgence.
What did the piano playing kid from Charlie Brown/ Peanuts do?
What did they do besides play the piano?
You missed the joke. I was asking who Schroder is. I know who Thatcher and Reagan are.
Schroder was the name of a Peanuts character that Lucy was infatuated with, who played piano.
I know not of the politician named Schroder.
Gerhard Schröder, also known as Gas-Gerd and close friend of Putin, German Chancellor from 1998-2005
Thanks!
Well, it would probably splinter them into a few new parties as their extreme wing would need to be split off to avoid the same thing repeating with the next party.
This milder form would still be popular and the backlash could catapult them to power. But they might be in power soon anyways.
Best case they will get temporarily weakened and the Germans have time to learn from the American deserter and maybe the rise of the far right won’t be en vougue that much.
They couldn’t splinter into new parties. Successor parties would be banned as well by this decision.
I guess you would be able to ban some central people from holding political office for a few years. But to can’t can every member from politics forever.
The AfD is pretty much the glue that is currently holding all the opposing far-right factions together. The moment they’re gone, there will be a lot of infighting.
Exactly. Since when has the mainstream ever succeeded in de-radicalizing a group of political outsiders?
Let’s be clear: could be successful.
This means that it would have to be brought to the constitutional court first. I’m not saying this isn’t likely to happen - but otoh I don’t know how likely. Just my obligatory clickbait headline correction.
Unfortunately, they will be in power and meddle with the courts before anything can happen.
Banning wouldn’t be necessary if the established parties would actually do proper politics. Mainly, putting proper immigration policies in place. If we had controlled immigration policies in place, like in Denmark for example, the AfD never would have gotten as popular. But unfortunately most germans (parties and people) put u automatically into the far-right corner if u say that u see the uncontrolled mass immigration critically.
There is no uncontrolled mass immigration, you weird uninformed racist dolt. It’s a dogwhistle that rightoids use to prop up the masses and stir hate which gives them power they use to stir more hate.
So those literal millions of people who came to germany since 2015 don’t exist?
Ah, so we immediately dropping the “uncontroleld” pretension, and go to the “preserving the cleanliness of the race” territory. Yeah, over the last 10 years literal millions (around two of those millions or so) people immigrated to Germany. What’s your problem with that?
Maybe using far-right buzzwords has something to do with that…
What the current government is doing on immigration has been judged (officially, by a proper court) as unlawful. They keep doing it anyway, escalating further up the court levels. This is already very close to a constitutional crisis due to the executive blatantly disregarding the judiciary.
What else would you want them to do beyond that? Just give up on the rule of law in general and while we are at it rip up all applicable European contracts?
Asylum != immigration. You’d need to change some fundamental laws how we treat people fleeing persecution and war. Mostly wars and conflicts started by the USA / Russia. Or increasingly fleeing climate change in the future.
Basically we’ll have to create consensus to not save people from certain death that come to our borders. Most people are with you on most cases of immigration. And climate change will lead to something like a billion refugees. So asylum will need to be limited.
Europe already turned asylum seekers back who end up in slave camps in Libya. Also a result of “intervention” that created much worse outcomes.
Long term we might have drones and robots and automated gun turrets to secure Europe’s borders. But honestly I suspect Europe will fall apart before that precisely because of the politics we’d need. It’s a hard sell without resorting to fascism.
Germany has so much red tape in its constitution due to fascism that it pretty much always has an excuse to ban whatever it wants, from the far right to Palestine protests. Question is, do they have the will to do it?
I wonder what people think voters whose grievances are represented by the AfD would do when the party is banned. Probably they’d have their minds changed and quietly vote status quo.
/s
They would need a new party that needs to be created and need to get popular. And the new one would hopefully learn to not break the constitution.
Are you argumenting that partys are above laws and constitution?
Are you argumenting that partys are above laws and constitution?
It depends on how popular it is. If it’s 5% of the pop- def not. If it’s 30%, probably not. If it’s 60% then the laws and constitution might need amendment.
But that’s besides my point. If you rely on forcing a third of Germany to make another party to represent it, you might not like what the new party’s popularity would be.
Ok, now I am confused. You are saying that they, as a party with around 30% popularity, shouldnt be above the law but the law shouldnt be enforced because it may make them more popular?
I’m suggesting that just enforcing the law without providing an aternative (for AfD), at this point in time, is likely to make them (the figures that formed the AfD) more popular, along with their new party they’ll inevitably form. I doubt Germany would round all of them up and throw them in jail. I think the time to ban the AfD was when there were significantly fewer people on their bandwagon. The other comment under mine says AfD voters aren’t too fervent supporters, so perhaps it won’t go the way I think it would. But that’s not my bet. (What I think would happen isn’t what I hope btw.)
When I say alternative I don’t mean another deporters party but with nicer messaging. That clearly doesn’t work. I mean an alternative that gives people real improvements by counteracting the austerity policies of the past for example.
is likely to make them (the figures that formed the AfD) more popular, along with their new party they’ll inevitably form.
Any follow-up party is automatically banned too. That’s how this law works.
SPD and C*U are already doing a lot of anti immigration stuff. Immigration is sinking for years now and more and more get exported. What is actually missing for them being an alternative for AfD followers?
Also hopefully the new party they form would learn to not break laws anymore.
SPD and CxU are barely doing anything to reduce immigration. We see fewer numbers simply because there aren’t as many migrants on their way to Europe compared to 2015/2016. It’s like having a leak in your roof, and when it stops raining, then saying that u fixed the leak in the roof. No, the leak still exists and water will still drip into ur house when it starts raining again. The number of deported people is still ridiculously small. We currently have over 200k people which should be deported if the law was followed. And we still see net positive immigration numbers, when it now should be net negative numbers what with the war in Syria being basically over. This is why the AfD is so popular, because they are the only party who really want stricter immigration policies. All other parties failed to deliver.
Sorry I added an edit abt what I meant by alternative before I saw your reply.
Ah read the update. Not sure what you mean with austerity policies? Also partys with real improvements like the leftist parties?
They have no grievances. They believe they have grievances because they have been manipulated by the AfD to need an enemy which the AfD presents them on a platter. It’s literally the only thing far right politics boils down to so the people give them power which they can use to steal money.
They haven’t been manipulated by the AfD though. They’ve been manipulated by mainstream media.
In my country the far right has spent hundreds of thousands on social media advertising. And what do they advertise? Fight videos where colored people are the aggressor. But advertising about how they are going to increase the pension age, lower taxes for people with capital, and all such bullshit is only mentioned in small print when you go look for it. The mainstream media just follows whatever the hype is.
Most of these voters are not extremist. They just go for the Platzhirsch (top dog) of what sounds good to them. Not many will protest when they get banned, and will accept that AfD “went a bit too far” or whatever euphemism they choose.
Perhaps. Only one way to find out 🔨
🔨
A gavel I presume.
Or a ban hammer 😂
Yeah let’s let Germany figure it out internally through diplomatic channels.
Its historically worked out very well!
Twice
You’re complaining that they’re trying to basically ban nazis?
I don’t think it’s very relevant to WW1/The German Empire
The way to undermine the AfD’s popularity is to adopt their popular views but in a milder form.
That is quite literally the opposite of what every reputable political scientist is saying…
Also, what the fuck is the “milder form” of deporting German citizens?
The centrist view on immigration would only permit migrants who have talent or needed skills.
Besides the fact that we already had skilled-worker immigration programs for decades, you didn’t answer my question. You want the other parties to adopt AfD views “in a milder form”. Which views are those gonna be? Asylum? Immigration? Because the AfD is conflating those. And judging from their little meeting in 2024, their politicians made it clear that they also planning to deport German citizens that don’t fit their racist ideas.
EDIT: Oh, and before i forget. There are other topics the AfD is going against “the mainstream”. I wonder what the “milder form” is there. The topics among others:
- Climate change denial
- LGBT+ rights denial
- Withdrawal from Nato
- Stripping citizenships
- Weaken or leave the EU
- Reverse gay marriage
- Ending military support to Ukraine
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has implemented sharply more restrictive migration policies while prioritizing pathways for specialized labor.
Permanent border controls and technology-driven surveillance led to a 42% drop in irregular crossings during 2025.
The Skilled Immigration Act was updated to fast-track visas for nurses and engineers to address labor shortages.
The AfD has stands on other topics, but I suspect its popularity is their view on immigration.
Permanent border controls and technology-driven surveillance led to a 42% drop in irregular crossings during 2025.
I don’t see any evidence for that claimed cause and effect relationship. Just because irregular border crossings fell doesn’t mean that the policies worked. The article just claims it does, without providing any evidence whatsoever.
Also, it’s mixing a few things up. Irregular border crossings are primarily related to asylum seekers. Skilled-worker immigration laws have nothing to do with that.
Oh, btw. here’s a photo of a border crossing nearby. I’m still looking for that dystopian ai powered surveillance here. Can’t seem to find it… almost as if it’s all just a show for gullible people…
Whether it was the result of Merz policies, the reduction in illegal border crossers will undermine the AfD’s appeal.
It doesn’t. Illegal border crossings are already down for years. Btw. do you see the refugees in the photo i posted?
So what the C*U is doing? Doesnt really look that effective ^^
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has implemented sharply more restrictive migration policies while prioritizing pathways for specialized labor.
Permanent border controls and technology-driven surveillance led to a 42% drop in irregular crossings during 2025.
The Skilled Immigration Act was updated to fast-track visas for nurses and engineers to address labor shortages.
As a skilled immigrant to Germany, Merz didn’t do shit except further restrict pathways we had towards citizenship. The immigration offices remain underfunded and overworked to the extent that many skilled immigrants would rather leave Germany (or indeed are forced out due to missed deadlines from immigration processing) than continue to deal with them.
Immigrants should try to get German lawmakers to change this since it doesn’t do any good for Germany to allow skilled immigrants in but can’t retain them.
A milder form of racism and hatred? Isn’t that just normal conservativism?
The AfD could be motivated by racism and hatred. The centrist motivation would be to preserve a country’s cultural identity. This could be achieved by only permitting migrants with talent or needed skills.
There’s already an Einbürgerungstest as part of permanent residency and citizenship. Many native born Germans couldn’t pass it.
Passing an engineering test is better than passing an Einburgerungstest.
Could you elaborate on what constitutes the German cultural identity you mentioned?
For example, during Christmas time, Germans set up outside markets in which they sell things. Suppose there is a group of migrants whose religion forbids going to these markets. If this group becomes large in a certain city, these markets might go out of business. Also, suppose some in these groups attack these markets because they feel they are corrupting their children.
Remember this attack. From https://abc7news.com/post/magdeburg-market-attack-death-toll-christmas-germany-rises-5-more-200-injured/15685891/
At least five people, including a 9-year-old, are now known to have been killed in the vehicle-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday, German officials said Saturday. The four other victims killed in the attack were adults, according to police.
At least 200 more people were injured when a car plowed into festive market-goers in the eastern German city, around 75 miles west of the capital Berlin, according to Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff.
There are currently thousands of Christmas markets held in Germany every year (at least 3250, up to 7000). The rumors of the tradition dying out due to migration/terrorist attacks that were spread by right wing media don’t hold any water. They’re not going anywhere.
Offenbach am Main, which is the city with the highest share of immigrants in Germany (65%), holds a Christmas market every year. It is one of the markets with the longest duration in Hesse (November 17 - December 29 in 2025).
The attacker in Magdeburg was a mentally ill man, motivated by far right extremism. He claimed to be 'the most aggressive critic of Islam in history’ and was a staunch proponent of the AfD.
You’re asking me to suppose things about migrants and their effect on society and derive xenophobic viewpoints from that. But those are just made up scenarios based on preconceived notions. As made clear by the example you chose to illustrate your point, there’s not much substance to your claims in my opinion.
The Magdeburg car-ramming was one of a series of attacks involving immigrants that pushed migration to the forefront of the campaign for Germany’s national election in February 2025. The defendant arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.
Okay? First you used it as an example for a violent expression of disdain for German culture by migrants. Now you’re saying it was one of the catalysts for the shift of public perception of problems resulting from migration.
No apparent reference to my reply.
Could be motivated by racism and hatred? You doubt that for some reason?
The AfD could be motivated by racism but not the CDU.
Whelp, you said it again for some reason. Could be. You are really really telling on yourself now.
Because that has worked so well in the past 20 years.
Did you forget an /s?
