The media reported on Merz's attempt to limit the discussion in the CDU of a possible ban on the AFD

German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz has banned party members from expressing their opinions on a possible ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This was reported by the Bild newspaper on May 21, citing sources.

"On Monday, he made it clear to the federal leaders of the CDU that he expresses his opinion on the beginning of a possible procedure for banning the AfD. No one should comment on this — that's his statement," the newspaper said in a statement.

Merz and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt believe that the conclusions contained in the report of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution are insufficient to legally ban the AFD party. According to these findings, the AfD party is right-wing extremist.

It is clarified that Merz does not want to continue the discussion on this topic. He is concerned that this may give citizens the impression that the CDU/CSU bloc is planning to eliminate a rival party in this way.

At the same time, the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag intends to vote against all candidates from Alternative for Germany for the posts of chairmen of parliamentary committees.

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It was decided to hold a repeat vote on the same day.

On May 15, Merz said that attempts to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany resemble the elimination of political competitors. He added that he is skeptical about this idea.

On May 2, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Germany classified the AFD as a right-wing extremist organization threatening democracy in the country. On May 5, the party filed a lawsuit against this federal agency for this decision. The Bild newspaper reported on May 8 that counterintelligence had temporarily suspended the definition of the party as right-wing extremist pending a court decision.

On May 11, several thousand people took part in a demonstration in Berlin to ban the Alternative for Germany party, and similar actions were held in more than 60 other German cities.