After a historic democratic victory for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, a top Christian Democrat (CDU) politician, Hendrik Wüst, is now calling for the first concrete steps towards a possible ban of the AfD party.
"I said something today, but I don't think any CDU member has said it publicly yet: That I am in favor of appointing this working group, which will then do this work," said North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Wüst.
Wüst has already repeatedly referred to the AfD as a "Nazi party." North Rhine-Westphalia itself faces a state election in April 2027.
Wüst made the remarks on Monday evening in Berlin to a mostly left-leaning audience during a talk hosted by "transformation researcher" Maja Göpel. He presented this working group as a prerequisite before any application to Germany's top court, the Federal Constitutional Court, for an outright ban of the AfD.
While the AfD nearly obtained an absolute majority with 43.8 percent in the Saxony-Anhalt election, Wüst's own party saw a historic crash, with its support cut in half to 17.2 percent. The results have reportedly sent CDU leadership, along with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, into a potential existential crisis.
Wüst apparently does not like that voters are moving away from his party and now wants this working group to examine the AfD in preparation for a potential ban, but he says other outcomes are possible besides a ban.
Beyond his position as minister-president, there is also speculation that Wüst himself is a strong front-runner to replace Merz should he step down. Merz himself has rejected a ban of the AfD, saying that it "smacks too much of the elimination of political rivals."
Besides the Bundestag and the federal government, the Bundesrat, of which Wüst is a member as head of a state government, can also launch such proceedings. However, the final decision on a ban is ultimately made by the Constitutional Court.
Wüst framed the outcome of that review as a constitutional duty. If the working group's examination reveals that the AfD could be banned, that would be a "command to protect this constitution."
As reported by Die Welt, Wüst added:
"If, after an examination, the following is on the table: This party can be banned, then this ban procedure must be initiated. For me, that's relatively clear. But step by step."
Earlier the same day, at a campaign event in Berlin, he had already warned against underestimating the AfD after its result in Saxony-Anhalt.
"We must not be naive and believe that the AfD would somehow change course. They have a plan with this country, and it's not a good plan," he said.
Wüst was careful to say that it is not a foregone conclusion that such a working group would recommend a ban.
Wüst said the working group should "not operate with the politically predetermined goal" but rather "examine this party and the possible legal consequences."
"That could be a ban, that could also be something else," said the CDU politician.