Dispute over AfD ban: Saxon Justice Minister considers ban difficult under current circumstances

Saxon Justice Minister Katja Meier believes it would be difficult to ban the AfD under the current circumstances. "Even the offices for the protection of the constitution at the federal and state level do not have a unanimous assessment of the AfD," the Green politician told the news magazine "Spiegel" (current issue). In some federal states, she said, the party is being watched as a suspected case, while in others it is considered to be a proven right-wing extremist. "It will probably be difficult with an AfD ban, as long as there are these discrepancies."

The hurdles for a ban are very high, Meier said. "And rightly so." Still, the justice minister said the debate over a ban is important. "It should not simply be stalled either." However, parliamentary minority rights should not be suspended even when dealing with the AfD, she added. "That means you have to find ways to deal with these forces politically," Meier said. Democracy, he said, is not a delivery service where you order what you want at the moment. "A defensible democracy thrives on participation. And there all are asked."

In Saxony, a new state parliament will be elected on Sept. 1, 2024. In the latest election poll, the AfD was ahead of the CDU with 35 percent. In principle, however, polls only reflect opinion at the time of the survey and are not forecasts of the election outcome.