Over 1,000 German jurists urge government and Bundestag to initiate AfD ban proceedings

The open letter and its signatories

More than 1,000 legal professionals in Germany have added their names to an open letter urging the federal government and the Bundestag to initiate proceedings to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The Republican Lawyers' Association (RAV) announced on 3 August 2026 that at least 1,051 attorneys, judges, prosecutors, legal staff from public administration and private enterprise, and trainee lawyers had signed the appeal. The letter was first published in mid-July with more than 500 signatories; the number has since doubled.

The signatories view it as their duty to defend human dignity for all, the RAV stated, adding that opposing a party that contradicts core constitutional values is part of that duty.

Legal foundation and the GFF opinion

The call rests on a legal opinion prepared by the Society for Freedom Rights (GFF). Eight legal experts concluded that the AfD's policies violate the human dignity guarantee and the democracy principle of the Basic Law, making the party unconstitutional. The RAV argues the opinion shows a high chance of success for a ban application before the Federal Constitutional Court.

Demands and warnings from the RAV

Bundestag and federal government are being asked to take immediate steps to file an application aimed at establishing the AfD's unconstitutionality and securing a ban. The RAV warned that serious harm to democracy and a threat to many people could follow if the party manages to implement its anti-constitutional agenda.

“The Basic Law gives us a tool that must finally be used. Politicians must stop hiding behind unrealistic excuses and act before it is too late.”

Political pushback

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht sharply criticised the initiative. She described the debate itself as damaging and accused its proponents of a new authoritarianism that, out of an inability to engage in substantive debate, calls ever more brazenly for bans.

“The debate alone is harmful. This is a new authoritarianism that, out of an inability to engage in substantive debate, calls ever more brazenly for bans.”

The procedural path and electoral backdrop

Under Article 21 of the Basic Law, only the federal government, the Bundestag, or the Bundesrat can apply to have a nationwide party banned. The Federal Constitutional Court then decides. The domestic intelligence agency currently monitors the AfD as a suspected extremist case; several state branches are classified as confirmed extremist. The legal push comes as the AfD leads nationwide polls and with a state election in Saxony-Anhalt scheduled for 6 September 2026.