German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has called for a court check on whether legal grounds exist to ban the opposition right-wing Alternative for Germany party.
Writing in an article for the newspaper Zeit, Klingbeil called the review a democratic duty. His statement comes amid high ratings for Alternative for Germany, known as AfD, ahead of regional elections in the country.
Klingbeil said authorities must seriously examine whether conditions exist to initiate prohibition proceedings in the federal constitutional court. He added that if legal grounds are confirmed, banning AfD would be a democratic duty to protect Germany rather than just an option.
The minister's statement follows an open letter from more than 1,000 German lawyers demanding that authorities consider banning the party.
European Union investigation
In addition, an investigation has begun in the European Union that could result in a ban on the pan-European party Europe of Sovereign Nations, which includes AfD. A committee of prominent figures will be created to evaluate whether the group complies with union values.
