Nov 9, 5:01 AM
Göring-Eckardt Warns of Potential AfD Government in Saxony-Anhalt and Backs Party Ban Review
The Green politician compared potential right-wing rule to life in the former GDR and called on authorities to examine legal action under the Basic Law.
Green Party politician Katrin Göring-Eckardt has called on German constitutional bodies to examine prohibition proceedings against the Alternative for Germany (AfD), while warning of the consequences of a potential AfD state government in Saxony-Anhalt. In an interview with the newspaper Die Zeit published on November 8, 2026, the Bundestag Vice President accused the party of attempting to appropriate the legacy of the 1989 Peaceful Revolution in the former German Democratic Republic.
Addressing the legal debate regarding party bans, Göring-Eckardt stated that constitutional organs and democratic parties must evaluate initiating a ban procedure if legal evidence warrants such action. She argued that potential concerns regarding state institutions should not prevent authorities from reviewing the formal options available under Germany's Basic Law.
Drawing comparisons to the former East German regime, the Green politician asserted that citizens remaining in Saxony-Anhalt under a future AfD-led administration might need to prepare for a form of dissidentism. She described a political shift in the region, citing reports from teachers who claimed students were recording what they said in class, as well as accounts of residents choosing to leave the area due to political pressure.
Göring-Eckardt, who participated in civil rights groups such as "Demokratie Jetzt" and "Demokratischer Aufbruch" in the late 1980s, suggested that churches could regain a function similar to their role near the end of the East German state by offering safe spaces for open dialogue. She referenced the Thuringian district of Sonneberg, where an AfD official holds office as district administrator, noting that a local church there serves as a gathering place for community members.
To counter the influence of right-wing political movements, Göring-Eckardt emphasized the need for political presence in smaller municipalities and direct communication with voters. She noted that listening to citizens and addressing their daily concerns could help democratic parties regain political ground in regional areas.
Written by Freya Stensrud freya.stensrud@alpineweekly.com
