Attacks alleged after calls to ban “right-wing extremists” AfD grow

By Ellis Asher

AfD politician Andreas Jurca claimed that he was allegedly beaten by migrants because of his political activities, in the German city of Augsburg on Saturday morning.

Just last week a survey conducted by Forsa found a 47-47 split by voters on whether or not the “Alternative für Deutschland” party should be banned in Germany.

Whilst Politico polls have shown the AfD’s surge to 21 per cent over the summer, much of AfD’s opposition would like to see AfD removed from the ballot entirely.

In a speech last week, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “We all have it in our hands to put those who despise our democracy in their place.”

CDU politician Wanderwitz called AfD “right-wing extremists,” saying, "The AfD constantly lays the axe on the foundations of our democracy, acts aggressively and militantly against the free democratic basic order."

With politicians like Wanderwitz calling for a ban, it’s time to ask if it’s possible to exclude 1 in 5 voters in the name of “democracy”, or if that is exactly what parties like the AfD want.

According to YouGov, 34 per cent of voters would be in favour of AfD involvement in the next government.

Whilst it is possible through the German constitution to ban a political party from election, the measure is being criticised as being anti-democratic, and is accused of creating the same system the measure is in place to avoid, an anti-democratic regime.

New polling data is showing a split not just amongst voters on if AfD should face a ban, but also amongst AfD members too.

Whilst the party may not be on the ballot next election, AfD's ideas will, and some of their voters think that a ban may only make them stronger.

Focusing on issues like immigration and the EU, the AfD have been labelled "far-right" by most legacy media outlets, which is to be expected, but outside of the halls of government, their ideas are clearly popular with the German people.

With alleged violence already starting to take place, the question facing the German establishment is: will a ban make this situation worse?