Greens in Saxony vote in favor of banning AfD

At their state party conference in Neukieritzsch, the Saxon Greens voted by a large majority in favor of initiating proceedings to ban the AfD. An urgent motion to this effect was adopted with two abstentions and no votes against.

Federal Green Party Chairman Felix Banaszak had previously campaigned for such proceedings. "It is right to have the Federal Constitutional Court examine whether the party stands on the ground of our constitution or whether it is trying to override these constitutional principles with feet, with violence and with violence in language," said Banaszak in his speech. This path was important before it was too late.

At the same time, he warned against prejudging: "It would be a mistake to assume that those who have doubts have a secret affinity with the AfD or its positions." The political debate with the AfD must continue, he said. "Democracies don't die from one day to the next," warned Banaszak with a view to what he sees as society becoming increasingly accustomed to far-right positions.

"I may be liberal, but I'm not stupid" - change of course for skeptics

The Greens' spokesperson on domestic policy in the state parliament, Valentin Lippmann, also backed the motion - although he said he had long been skeptical of a ban procedure. "I may be liberal, but I'm not stupid," he said. In view of the increasing radicalization of the AfD, action must now be taken. He supports the initiation of a ban procedure, "because it is time to draw the sharpest sword of defensive democracy and strike out with it".

This is not about symbolic politics: "We owe it to the democrats in this country and to a democracy that should still be a liberal democracy in 50 or 100 years' time", said Lippmann.

At the same time, he called for further measures: "A ban procedure is uncertain, a ban procedure takes time, and we have a hell of a lot to do until then." For example, weapons must be prevented from falling into the hands of AfD functionaries. "Weapons do not belong in the hands of right-wing extremists," emphasized Lippmann.