Germany designates another state level group of the AfD party extremist.
It has already been designated for Thuringen, where the head of the Thuringen AfD Björn Höcke has lost a defamation lawsuit, because the court ruled that calling him a fascist does not amount to defamation, because he is one.
But doesn’t it make the whole thing extremist if they tolerate an extremist local organization on state level within their rows?
From my point of view it does, even though there is plenty of reasons to considerthe AfD as fascist and extremist party as a whole and on the federal level.
Unfortunately only the government or the federal parliament or the federal state assembly can initiate the ban of a party, which then is decided by the constitutional court. The politicians so far have been reluctant to start the banning process, both in fear of it failing or it suceesing, depending on their political leaning.
Banning a political party in Germany doesnt only require it work against the constitution,but also be “agressive” about it and have actual political power.
Just to make sure everyone reading this is on the same level, designating a party or its regional branches as extremist only relates to the level of scrutiny they receive by the Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution).
This has nothing directly to do with banning the party.
What did they do to receive this label?
This is not a label you can receive for doing a particular thing. The german anti domestic terrorism/coup agency (has a severe pro-right wing bias I.e. would usually turn a blind eye to this) feels they have continously acted in a way that endangers the constitutional order.
Be Nazis
State level group is Nazi party full of Nazis. Shocking development.