Germans contemplate ban on far-right AfD following scandalous deportation discourse

Germany has found itself entangled in a contentious debate over the potential prohibition of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, as revelations emerge of a clandestine meeting discussing mass deportations. The shocking disclosure, implicating senior AfD figures and neo-Nazi influencers, has triggered widespread backlash, manifesting in large-scale protests across major cities.

The investigative report by Correctiv detailed a November meeting near Berlin, allegedly attended by senior AfD members and neo-Nazi influencers, where mass deportations and “remigration” strategies were purportedly deliberated. The disclosure prompted substantial anti-AfD demonstrations, with tens of thousands voicing concern over the proposed deportation plan.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed gratitude for the protesters, emphasizing that any expulsion plan would be an attack on democracy. In response, the AfD leadership vehemently refuted the allegations, asserting the meeting was private and not organized by the party. Despite distancing efforts, internal divisions emerged as senior aide Roland Hartwig, present at the meeting, parted ways with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel.

Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner, allegedly presenting the deportation masterplan, faces scrutiny. Sellner’s proposal involves relocating individuals to a “model state” in North Africa. Reacting to the reports, 25 Social Democratic Bundestag members called for an examination of a potential AfD ban, citing the party’s “extremist” state associations.

Legal experts and politicians express skepticism regarding a ban, emphasizing the need for political competition rather than legal action. The German constitution deems parties seeking to undermine the democratic order unconstitutional, with previous attempts to ban parties facing challenges. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck accused the AfD of seeking a Russian-style autocracy but acknowledged the potential damage of a failed ban attempt.

The AfD, enjoying record success in the polls, faces increased scrutiny amid accusations of racism and right-wing extremism. Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, vows to use all available instruments to defend democracy, not ruling out a party ban as a final resort. Reports of the meeting draw comparisons to historical genocidal schemes, prompting Faeser to underscore the severity of a potential AfD ban as the “sharpest sword available.”