SPD decides to ban AfD: A historic step for democracy!

SPD decides to ban AfD: A historic step for democracy!

In Berlin it has SPD recently made an ambitious decision: At their federal party conference on June 29, 2025, the delegates voted unanimously to prepare a ban procedure against the AfD. This remarkable result came after almost two hours of intense debate, in which approximately three dozen speakers raised their voices. The previous speakers repeatedly emphasized the party's historical responsibility to strengthen the fight against radical ideas in society.

“The door is here, get out!”was the emphatic expression of delegates like Aaron Spielmanns, who considered program reform necessary to arm themselves against growing radicalization. The topics that emerged in the debate were as diverse as they were urgent. From affordable housing to better conditions in daycare centers and schools to climate justice - the delegates demanded that the SPD devote all its efforts to people's concerns.

The AfD and the political pressure

The situation is particularly difficult for the SPD, especially in the eastern German states. Here the party is under strong pressure from the far right, as the polls show: In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD now has an astonishing 30 percent, while in Saxony it received 7.3 percent of the vote in the last election. Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Mayer formulated the message clearly: Democracy is at stake if the AfD continues to gain influence.

In her speech, SPD interior expert Dorothea Marx supported the call for decisive measures against the AfD. A large proportion of the delegates were clearly in favor of setting up a ban procedure. It was decided to set up a federal-state working group whose task would be to collect evidence that the party was unconstitutional. The goal: As soon as sufficient evidence is available, an application should be submitted to the Federal Constitutional Court in order to protect democracy.

The legal hurdles and political disagreement

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil sees this step as"historical"and points out that the constitution should serve as a protective instrument. He emphasized the importance of a legal dispute against the AfD, also with regard to the assessment by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. However, there is also resistance within the political landscape.

The CDU has so far rejected proceedings to ban the AfD and is relying on political combat. Critical voices within the Union and also in the SPD, especially in East Germany, show that the current findings are not sufficient to support a ban. The CDU politician Steffen Bilger pointed out the high legal hurdles associated with an application.

Proceedings before the Constitutional Court could be initiated by various political actors, whether the government, the Bundestag or the Bundesrat. It is important to prove that a party is pursuing aggressive measures against the basic democratic order. However, a report from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution alone is not enough, which underlines the complexity of the undertaking. The discussion about this nerve-wracking process will probably continue for some time and remains exciting to follow.