Germany's vice chancellor is calling for a formal examination into banning the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as the populist party continues to post record numbers in national opinion polls.
Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), said in an article published Wednesday by Die Zeit that Germany should seriously consider outlawing the AfD, which is now the country's largest opposition party. His comments come as the newest polling showed the party widening its lead over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU alliance.
Klingbeil also reaffirmed his support for maintaining Germany's political "firewall," the long-standing policy of refusing to cooperate with the AfD at any level of government.
"It is intended to prevent enemies of the constitution from gaining political power. It protects the dignity of every individual and, with it, our liberal democracy. For me and for my party, this is non-negotiable."
The renewed push follows the release of a legal opinion commissioned by the Berlin-based Society for Civil Rights, which concluded the AfD is "demonstrably unconstitutional." The report was authored by eight legal scholars who argued the party violates democratic principles and Germany's constitutional guarantee of human dignity. More than 1,000 legal scholars and lawyers have also signed a public appeal calling for the AfD to be banned.
Klingbeil echoed those findings in his article. "Independent scholars have demonstrated that the AfD is systematically working to destroy our democracy and the rule of law." Under German law, only the federal government or either chamber of parliament can ask the Constitutional Court to ban a political party.
It comes, conveniently, as the AfD continues gaining ground with voters. A new RTL/ntv Trendbarometer conducted by the Forsa Institute found the party rising one point to 28 percent, its highest level since May and seven points ahead of the CDU/CSU at 21 percent. The Greens polled at 16 percent, while both the SPD and the Left Party stood at 12 percent.
The survey also found dissatisfaction with Merz climbing to 85 percent, while just 14 percent approved of his performance. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, said they trust no political party to effectively solve Germany's major problems.
The Forsa poll surveyed 2,501 people between July 28 and August 3.
Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), said in an article published Wednesday by Die Zeit that Germany should seriously consider outlawing the AfD, which is now the country's largest opposition party. His comments come as the newest polling showed the party widening its lead over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU alliance.
Klingbeil also reaffirmed his support for maintaining Germany's political "firewall," the long-standing policy of refusing to cooperate with the AfD at any level of government.
"It is intended to prevent enemies of the constitution from gaining political power. It protects the dignity of every individual and, with it, our liberal democracy. For me and for my party, this is non-negotiable."
The renewed push follows the release of a legal opinion commissioned by the Berlin-based Society for Civil Rights, which concluded the AfD is "demonstrably unconstitutional." The report was authored by eight legal scholars who argued the party violates democratic principles and Germany's constitutional guarantee of human dignity. More than 1,000 legal scholars and lawyers have also signed a public appeal calling for the AfD to be banned.
Klingbeil echoed those findings in his article. "Independent scholars have demonstrated that the AfD is systematically working to destroy our democracy and the rule of law." Under German law, only the federal government or either chamber of parliament can ask the Constitutional Court to ban a political party.
It comes, conveniently, as the AfD continues gaining ground with voters. A new RTL/ntv Trendbarometer conducted by the Forsa Institute found the party rising one point to 28 percent, its highest level since May and seven points ahead of the CDU/CSU at 21 percent. The Greens polled at 16 percent, while both the SPD and the Left Party stood at 12 percent.
The survey also found dissatisfaction with Merz climbing to 85 percent, while just 14 percent approved of his performance. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, said they trust no political party to effectively solve Germany's major problems.
The Forsa poll surveyed 2,501 people between July 28 and August 3.
