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[–] 98 points 2 months ago (10 children)

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

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  • [–] 54 points 2 months ago (7 children)

    Last time the reason was they are too small to ban. Now they are too large?

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  • [–] 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Banning a small party would be politically damaging, banning a big party would be institutionally damaging.

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    [–] 38 points 2 months ago (16 children)

    '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.

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  • [–] 33 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

    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.

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  • [–] 17 points 2 months ago

    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.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (6 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    They couldn't splinter into new parties. Successor parties would be banned as well by this decision.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    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.

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    [–] 23 points 2 months ago

    Unfortunately, they will be in power and meddle with the courts before anything can happen.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

    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 I don't know how likely. Just my obligatory clickbait headline correction.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 months ago

    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?

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