A group of German lawyers, judges, and prosecutors have signed a petition calling for the launch of constitutional proceedings to ban Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The initiative was organised by the Republican Lawyers’ Association (RAV), which has repeatedly urged the federal government and parliament to submit a formal application to the Federal Constitutional Court.
The RAV said support for the appeal had risen from around 500 legal professionals in mid-July to 1,051 signatories. The association argued that defending human dignity includes opposing political parties that, in its view, conflict with the fundamental principles of Germany’s constitution. It cited Article 21 of the Basic Law, which allows political parties to be declared unconstitutional if they seek to undermine or abolish the country’s free democratic order.
Under German law, only the Bundestag, Bundesrat, or federal government can initiate proceedings before the Constitutional Court. The RAV therefore cannot file an application itself and is instead seeking to increase political pressure on the institutions authorised to do so. The association also referred to a legal opinion published by the Berlin-based Society for Civil Rights (GFF), which examines whether the AfD could meet the constitutional criteria for a party ban.
While supporters argue that court proceedings would provide legal clarity on whether the AfD violates Germany’s constitutional order, opponents warn that such efforts undermine the democratic preferences of the electorate.
