Election results in Saxony-Anhalt: Ban the AfD or lose

It's high time. It's high time for a ban on the AfD. The election results in Saxony-Anhalt clearly showed this. There is no other way to stop the rise of right-wing extremism.

For years, the parties to the left of the AfD have tried to provide content to the right-wing extremists. They have brought to bear the sharpest sword in democratic debate: the argument. Because it was believed that reason simply had to win. Firewalls were built to contain the fire of fascism. Democrats were mobilized to march to the polling stations.

But the result is fatal: the AfD grows and grows and grows. Because the declared enemies of the constitution can laugh up their sleeves every time someone jumps over the sticks they are holding out - and they can once again snort and explain what they stand for: contempt for democracy.

Education hasn't helped for a long time. It's not like the masses don't know who they're voting for. That's exactly what they want: to undermine democracy with the help of democracy. When they say that something finally has to change, that's exactly what they mean.

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This is apparently so incredibly attractive that they are now flocking to the polls. Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt has never been higher than this Sunday. Because those who had previously abstained from democracy also wanted to vote for the AfD. They want to take away space from liberal-minded people. They want to drive everyone who is not originally German out of the country. They want to close the open society.

To get a foot in the door, all that's left is a ban - which isn't primarily about putting fans of fascism in their place. It's about giving the Democrats some breathing room again - for a substantive debate without the constant focus on the AfD.

It is high time for a ban on the AfD. Without ifs and buts. And immediately. Only one thing is even more obvious. That the ban will not come because the majority of Democrats consider it undemocratic to protect democracy. But the AfD will not hesitate and use the opportunity offered by democracy to ban everything liberal.