Will The AfD Party Be Banned In Germany?

The German SPD is spearheading efforts to ban the AfD, currently the most popular party in Germany. Banning the AfD, which polls between 25 and 27 percent, could radically reshape the electorate, favoring the left. A ban could decimate the CDU, potentially relegating them to political insignificance, as right-wing voters consolidate. An analogous local election saw voter participation plummet, with a surge in spoiled ballots after an AfD candidate was barred. If repeated nationally, this could give left-wing parties a supermajority with even a low voter turnout. However, the CDU is hesitant because a large number of CDU voters are against it. The CDU also fears it would lose voters to the AfD while the ban is reviewed in court. While left parties favor, many Germans believe banning the AfD would harm democracy. A ban coupled with low voter turnout could destabilize the German government's legitimacy. Though unlikely, the CDU could change course, but currently, the risks outweigh the rewards.