The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the party “The homeland» it is not allowed at least for the next six years to receive the prescribed for political parties government fundingas “aims to degrade or even eliminate the free, democratic fundamental order”.

“Fatherland” is just the new name of the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD)which it is made up of smaller parties of far-right ideology. In 2017, the Federal Constitutional Court rejected an appeal to ban it NPDbecause, as he ruled, there was no evidence that the party could achieve its unconstitutional goals, due to limited influence in society.

Under later legislation however, it is now possible to exclude a party from state funding for six years, which also means that the party cannot enjoy tax exemptions or to collect donations.

According with figures from the Federal Parliament, the NPD has received no money since 2021. In 2020, however, he received a state grant of 370,600 euros, as he received 3.025% of the votes in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Pomerania. In 2016, when the party had greater electoral success, it received 1.1 million euros. Indicatively, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) had collected 51 million euros in the same year.

During the hearing, “The Homeland” was not represented. As announced, “we do not allow ourselves to become accomplices in a simulation of justiceas the case will degenerate into a show trial”.

Doomed for the AfD

Today’s decision in Karlsruhe, following a relevant appeal by the Federal Parliament, the Federal Council and the federal government, couldmany consider to be a guide for dealing with the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Zender opposes the banning of the partybut prequalifies one process of excluding him from state funding.

AfD rates drop – Remains second party

Following the revelations by the investigative journalism website Correctiv that its executives met with neo-Nazi organizations and elaborated plans for mass and forcible deportations, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is recording its first losses in the polls, but remains in second place, while neither the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) nor the Social Democratic Party (SPD) benefit from the deterioration of the far-right party.

According to a poll conducted by the INSA Institute on behalf of the BILD newspaper, the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) remains first with 30.5% (-0.5), with the AfD following with 21.5% (-1 ,5), recording in this survey the biggest drop of the last two years. The SPD shrinks further to 13.5% (-0.5), the Greens rise to 12.5% ​​(+0.5) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) remains at the 5% mark. The Left, after the split of the party, is limited to 3% (-1). The “other parties”, which currently include the “Alliance Zara Wagenknecht” (BSW) of the former leader of the parliamentary group of the Left, increase their percentage to 11.5% (+3.5%).

“The demonstrations against AfD are supported by 37% of respondents. There seems to be an impact on survey responses as well. The AfD, however, remains the second party, eight points ahead of the SPD. But there is also 50% who say that they consider it unthinkable to vote AfD”, the head of the INSA Institute, Herman Binkert, tells BILD.

However, according to the German news agency dpa, the revelations about the meeting with neo-Nazis and the deportation plans have not stopped the speed with which the AfD is attracting new members. A party spokesman said that from January 10 to 22, 1,400 registration applications were submitted, while resignations were limited to double digits.