- cross-posted to:
- brainworms@lemm.ee
- cross-posted to:
- brainworms@lemm.ee
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.
The person I was responding to suggested that ridiculing the AfD was preferable to banning it. In the USA people ridiculed but did not ban the Republican Party, and now it is stronger than ever. I was saying that this indicates you have to be careful how you ridicule them. If people feel you’re on their side and making fun of idiot fascists, that’s good. If people think you look like a snob and the fascists are the ones on their side, it backfires.
Got it. I thought the “being careful” part was about banning, not ridiculing :)