The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the most popular party in Germany for the first time, garnering 26 percent of the vote. According to a Forsa poll, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is in second place with 25 percent.
If an election were held today, the Social Democrats (SPD) and CDU, the two parties expected to form the government, would not have enough support. The SPD stands at 15 percent, making the combined total of the two parties 40 percent. The poll also shows a slight decrease in support for the Greens and the Left Party.
The rise of AfD comes at a time when there is a push from the left to ban the party in the German parliament, the Bundestag, a topic extensively covered by Remix News. Despite initial reports suggesting CDU’s support for the ban, the situation is becoming more complex.
There are now voices within the CDU and its sister party, the CSU, advocating for a more measured approach towards the AfD, including influential figures like Jens Spahn. Spahn has even suggested that the AfD should have representation in the Bundestag committees, given its significant voter support during the elections. However, there is a growing sentiment to exclude the AfD, particularly from intelligence committees.
SPD member Ralf Stegner emphasized his party’s firm stance against any leniency towards the AfD, stating that any cooperation with right-wing radicals would be a major challenge for the new coalition government.
Welt reports that CDU is resisting calls for an automatic ban on the AfD.
Günter Krings, legal policy spokesman for the CDU-CSU parliamentary group, rejects the idea of initiating ban proceedings automatically based on the classification by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. He advocates for a political approach to combat the AfD’s extremism through government achievements.
AfD leaders are critical of the ban proposals. Co-leader Alice Weidel dismissed the calls for a ban as unfounded and counterproductive, urging a focus on addressing the reasons behind the party’s increasing popularity.
The debate over a potential ban on the AfD has sparked controversy and division within German political circles, with differing opinions on the best approach to tackle the party’s rise.
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