Germany Moves to Expel Extremist Officials and Weighs Partial Ban on AfD

German authorities are tightening procedures to remove civil servants with extremist views. A new disciplinary‑law reform would allow agency heads to dismiss such staff directly and extend the assessment of conduct, with court review limited to the employee’s request. The reform was prompted by cases such as judge Jens Maier, identified by Saxony’s security service as a far‑right extremist, and a catalog of measures introduced by Saxony Justice Minister Katja Meier.

At the same time, the ruling coalition is debating a partial ban of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). CSU faction chief Klaus Holetschek said a ban cannot be ruled out, and former CSU justice minister Winfried Bausback has filed a legal motion against the AfD’s Thuringian state organization. A 1,500‑page report by the Society for Civil Rights documents the AfD’s systematic intimidation and racist exclusion of groups, fueling calls for the constitutional tool to protect democratic rights. The discussions occur alongside the high‑profile trial of the “Ulm 5” activists charged with forming a criminal association after a protest at the Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems.