What’s the Latest on a Possible AfD Ban?

Berlin, October 23rd, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – The Social Democratic governor of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig, supports the establishment of a joint federal and state working group to investigate potential restrictions on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Schwesig outlined her plan to the broadcasters RTL and ntv, emphasizing the need for the group to gather all incidents and findings related to the AfD, as well as commission an outside expert to make a recommendation.

In her view, politicians cannot ban the party themselves and that only the Federal Constitutional Court has the authority to decide. Schwesig also proposed that a substantive political debate with the AfD is necessary, particularly focusing on the party's call for leaving the Euro, which she believes would harm the economy. Additionally, she stressed the importance of taking seriously the security agencies' knowledge about the party, stating that the AfD poses a serious threat to Germany.

The concept of a working group on a possible AfD ban was first proposed in September by Wüst, the Christian Democratic governor of North Rhine-Westphalia, who warned against hasty moves on the matter. However, the idea has received resistance within the conservative camp, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz remaining skeptical and the Union (CDU/CSU) rejecting an application for the ban.

The media reports also indicate that Bavaria's governor, Markus Söder, opposes Wüst's approach. Recently, hackers leaked hundreds of thousands of emails and documents from the AfD, which the party confirmed and filed a criminal complaint. Legal experts are divided on whether the leaked material could be relevant to potential ban proceedings.