Schuster: Party ban is not a political wish list

Saxon Interior Minister Armin Schuster is skeptical about banning the AfD. "The question of banning a party is not a political wishful thinking exercise, but a bone-dry, purely technical and legal task, primarily for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution," said the minister when asked by the German Press Agency.

"It would therefore be a good idea for those in the political arena to be guided by the assessments of experts from the federal states in which the AfD has at least been classified as "definitely right-wing extremist" and where there is also experience in legal disputes," explained the minister. Even the federal government has not yet classified the party as "definitely right-wing extremist".

Schuster: Party ban is surgery on the open heart of democracy

"The hurdles are therefore high for good reasons, because a party ban ultimately means surgery on the open heart of democracy," concluded Schuster.

SPD leader Saskia Esken had called on the interior ministers to collect material for a possible ban of the AfD. "I expect the interior ministers of the federal and state governments to continue to collate the findings of the offices for the protection of the constitution on the extremist aspirations of the AfD and, if necessary, to initiate proceedings - for example to stop the financial flows of right-wing extremist networks."

Protection of the constitution classifies AfD as right-wing extremist in three states

The AfD became the strongest party in the state elections in Thuringia - the first time ever in a state election in Germany. As in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified it as a confirmed right-wing extremist party.
Critics warn that a ban procedure would be very lengthy and the outcome in Karlsruhe would be open. There are also concerns about banning a party with a high level of voter support.