Status: 16.01.2024, 13:35 PM
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AfD state leader Björn Höcke. © Martin Schutt/dpa
The AfD is gaining more and more support - all the more reason to think about recipes against its success. A ban procedure has been discussed for some time. Now another way is coming into focus.
Berlin - In view of the strengthening of the AfD, another possibility is now being discussed in addition to a ban procedure: a motion to withdraw the fundamental rights of outstanding enemies of the constitution. To this end, a collection of signatures has now been launched, which is directed in particular against the Thuringian AfD party and parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke, whose state association the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies as certain right-wing extremist. It appeals to the parliamentary group leaders of the SPD, the Greens, the FDP as well as the opposition groups CDU/CSU and the Left Party to persuade the federal government to submit a corresponding application to the Federal Constitutional Court.
By Monday afternoon, more than 830,000 signatures had already been received on the petition platform of the campaign network Campact for the initiative under the title "Stop the fascist Björn Höcke: Arrange for the Federal Government to file an application with the Federal Constitutional Court for forfeiture of fundamental rights under Article 18 of the Basic Law". Campact announced on Tuesday that it does not intend to submit the signatures as an official petition to the petitions committee of the Bundestag. "Nevertheless, the votes collected in this way continue to unleash enormous political power," it said.
In Thuringia, a state election is due in September. Höcke's AfD is leading by a wide margin in the polls: currently at 34 to 36 percent.
The possibility of deprivation of fundamental rights is regulated in the Basic Law: Anyone who abuses freedom of expression, in particular freedom of the press, freedom of teaching, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, the secrecy of letters, posts and telecommunications, property or the right of asylum "to fight against the free democratic basic order, forfeits these fundamental rights," according to Article 18. pronounced." This requires an application from the Bundestag, the Federal Government or a state government.
According to the Constitutional Court Act, this also includes the possibility of depriving someone of the right to vote, eligibility for election and the ability to hold public office. In doing so, Karlsruhe can only withdraw individual fundamental rights and also limit this for a limited period of time, but to at least one year.
The collection of signatures was started two months ago and has been very popular ever since. After the announcement of the Potsdam meeting of radical right-wing activists and extremists with some AfD functionaries and also CDU members, the popularity has increased sharply in recent days.
The former head of the far-right Identitarian Movement in Austria, Martin Sellner, had confirmed to the German Press Agency that he had spoken about "remigration" at the meeting in November. Right-wing extremists usually mean that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country - even under duress. According to the media company Correctiv, Sellner named three groups: asylum seekers, foreigners with the right to stay - and "non-assimilated citizens".
The left-wing politician Dietmar Bartsch called for the signature collection to be signed, but demanded a political debate from the parties. "This petition from the middle of society is welcome and worthy of support, and I hope that many citizens will sign it," the member of the Bundestag told the editorial network Germany (RND). However, he did not sign it, because: "We politicians have to lead the political debate." dpa