German lawyers petition for ban on AfD party

More than 1,000 legal professionals in Germany, including judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and civil servants, have signed an open letter calling for the government and the Bundestag to initiate proceedings to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The petition, driven by the Republikanischer Anwältinnen- und Anwälteverein (RAV), argues that the party’s policies violate fundamental principles of human dignity and democracy enshrined in the German Basic Law. The group cites analysis from the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF), which examined party programs and parliamentary documents to support claims of unconstitutionality.

While some political figures, such as SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, have suggested that the Federal Constitutional Court should seriously examine whether the requirements for a ban are met, the move has faced criticism. Opponents argue that the involvement of sitting judges and prosecutors in such a political campaign is problematic. For a ban to occur, an application must be formally submitted to the Federal Constitutional Court by the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, or the federal government.