this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2025
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Summary

Germany's parliament will debate a proposed ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) for the first time next week.

The proposal cites the AfD's increasing radicalism and historically revisionist statements, such as co-leader Alice Weidel’s claim that Hitler was a communist.

Under Germany's constitution, a party ban requires proof of opposition to constitutional principles.

Critics warn that a ban could portray the AfD as martyrs.

The AfD currently polls in second place at 20% ahead of February elections.

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[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 126 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (5 children)

My grandad who fought in WW2 used to say to me "You don't speak to Nazis, you shoot Nazis".

To translate this into modern world: AfD should be banned and its politicians should go to prison. The same with all far right across Europe.

We allowed nazis take power once, we must not make the same mistake again.

[–] AgentRocket@feddit.org 32 points 1 week ago

We allowed nazis take power once, we must not make the same mistake again.

In case you missed it, they are in power already, just not in Germany (yet).

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

We allowed nazis take power once, we must not make the same mistake again.

That ship sailed in November

[–] hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

In Europe. This is about Europe. America is not the center of the world.

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

My bad, shouldn't comment with migraines

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

True, but I did imagine OP as American. OP's grandpa presumably wasn't German, anyway. Or they were/are, and are extra cool, I guess.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 week ago

Yeah, I didn't bother going to a Remembrance day ceremony this year. It felt redundant when that shit was so front of mind already.

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[–] madjo@feddit.nl 54 points 1 week ago (3 children)

20%?! What the fuck is wrong with people? I know that there are problems in the world, big problems, but you don't get rid of those by just saying "Ausländer raus!"

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 43 points 1 week ago (1 children)

People are disgruntled enough to the point that they just want to burn it all down. And these far right radicals/Nazis are often promising that (even though they have zero plans of carrying through and will instead just further enrich themselves at the cost of everything else). This is what happens when you let extreme inequality continue unchecked for decades.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 10 points 1 week ago

Keep in mind, that the past decade centrist and right wing media did everything to give the AfD maximum attention and for the past 3 years every party from left of center to right bent over backwards to push themselves to the right and far right. the Greens and Social Democrats passed a law to make deportations easier just a week after investigative journalists uncovered a meeting by the AfD, other Fascists and the CDU to discuss plans for large scale deportations. sitting chancellor Scholz had declared "We need to deport in grand style" a few months earlier.

Now for the AfD ban innitiation a relevant faction of the Green party want to block it on the basis of "wanting more time, a parliamentary inquiry and not to risk giving the AfD a carte blanche if the ban case fails." I think it is more because they are worried that some of their right and far right policies could come under scrutiny too.

The reality is that large parts of German politics have been infiltrated by and wanted to move to the right very hard. They just waited for a pretext to do so, where they don't end up being the far right all of a sudden.

I'm just mentioning the Green party as an example, because they used to be a progressive party, left of the social democrats and right of the Left party, and i am dissapointed the most in them. But the CDU is using the same election slogans as the AfD currently and the Bavarian abomination CSU now has posters that look the same to posters of the NPD, which is the skinheads with baseball bats style Nazi-party.


https://mastodon.social/@peterjelinek/113770253157050313

https://feddit.org/post/6986463/4242805

[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

For decades, the elite has been hoarding more and more wealth, while the average worker faces inflation, stagnating wages, and crumbling public services - this is true for most developed countries.

Same as with Trump in 2016, a large number of German people are (rightfully) dissatisfied, and (mistakenly) think that a radical candidate will solve their problems, and “stick it” to the elite and current ruling parties.

The answer is the same everywhere - the elite should stop hoarding the wealth that is created by the workers, and the government should use that money to invest into the common needs of the people (e.g. good education, healthcare and public infrastructure). This is the only way that works, but billionaires would rather see fascists on the government that burn countries down, as that doesn’t endanger neoliberal capitalism,

Wealth distribution (wages, cost of living, housing) is one thing.

The demographic changes caused by low birth rates and immigration are not to be underestimated. They have a huge impact on identity, outlook towards the future, and societal cohesion.

A majority of older people, many without children, who only care about their own pensions and benefits are not conducive to societal change, growth, and adaptation. Wealth distribution plays a role here too of course. The younger generations realize they won’t be able to live the lifestyle of their parents is a huge blow to overall morale. Disintegration of institutions (church, unions) only accelerate the alienation and destruction of social cohesion. Families are also much weaker. They are smaller and their members are more likely to live further apart. Divorce adds further instability and disconnection. That all contributes to increased mental health issues and loneliness.

Society is in crisis in many ways. People promising radical change (back to an imaginary glorious past) become more and more attractive.

[–] einkorn@feddit.org 8 points 1 week ago

But it's such a simple and easy solution to our problems! /s

[–] Magister@lemmy.world 53 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Germany should declare Musk a persona non grata

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[–] fxomt@lemm.ee 46 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

please god let head AfD members be prosecuted, that would be so fucking funny

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

A matter of weeks before the election too

You brought it upon yourselves, AfD

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 41 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Critics warn that a ban could portray the AfD as martyrs.

So? Martyr the shit out of them.

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (1 children)

In good ol' days, people had to die first to become martyrs.

[–] ploot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

Hmm, worth thinking about.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Martyrdom is massively overrated in Western discourse - usually a crackdown just works. Probably exactly because it's a great excuse not to do scary but necessary things, which is something we've grown unused to.

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 41 points 1 week ago (2 children)

BANNT DIE SCHEIẞE DOCH ENDLICH WEG

WEG IN DIE SCHATTENWELT

[–] fxomt@lemm.ee 23 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

i dont understand german, but i fully understood that due to how angry it is lmao

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Basically:

BAN THAT SHIT FINALLY

BANISH IT INTO THE SHADOW REALM

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Loses something in translation like that. I'd say

JUST DO BAN THAT SHIT GONE ALREADY

AWAY INTO THE SHADOW REALM

Extra points for the use of capital Eszett.

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks to Heliboard for automatically suggesting a ẞ when shift is pressed.

[–] fxomt@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

lol, i meant i understood what you said due to how angry it was, will correct my comment. i didn't understand the part about the shadow realm tho, thanks

[–] user134450@feddit.org 4 points 1 week ago

upvote for use of capital ß

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 27 points 1 week ago (1 children)

BAN THE AFD

Seriously, fuck them

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yup. Rising Nazism doesn't need to be the exact same guys again. That's just lazy.

[–] just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 1 week ago (1 children)

In a recent speech, Alice weidel idolized her grandfather's generation. Her grandfather was a member of the Nazi party.

AfD goes to length to imply nazism but won't outright say it.

[–] _edge@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 week ago

It's just Musk without cool gadgets

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago

Please include musk in this bad and make that ban Europe wide

[–] Metz@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

bittebittebittebitte...

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