CDU leader proposes stripping far-right AfD figure of voting rights

CDU’s Jens Spahn proposes stripping far-right AfD leader Björn Höcke of voting rights
Berlin — Jens Spahn, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary group, has proposed stripping far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Björn Höcke of his passive voting rights, a move that would bar him from holding elected office. Speaking on the *Focus* podcast *Machtmenschen* on Friday, Spahn suggested exploring legal avenues to remove Höcke’s eligibility, stating: *“Everyone always talks about ban proceedings. How about we just try a procedure and see if we can strip someone like him—an extreme right-winger—of their active and passive voting rights.”*
Höcke, who leads the AfD in Thuringia, has been convicted twice by the Halle Regional Court for using a banned SA slogan. The Thuringian AfD has been classified as definitively right-wing extremist by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 2021. Spahn’s proposal follows calls from former SPD Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück in mid-June to strip individual AfD figures of their passive voting rights, including Höcke. Bavarian CSU leaders have also signaled openness to partial ban proceedings, though party chief Markus Söder has repeatedly rejected a full ban on the AfD as a party.
Spahn’s remarks underscore the CDU’s growing unease with the AfD’s influence, particularly amid concerns over Höcke’s ties to foreign actors. *“Anyone who works for Putin, spies for China, or uses extremist and radical language—we distance ourselves from them, politically, substantively, and personally,”* Spahn said. His comments reflect a broader shift within Germany’s political establishment to counter the far right through legal and rhetorical means rather than relying solely on constitutional challenges.
The proposal comes as Germany grapples with the AfD’s rising poll numbers and its normalization in some regional debates. While a full AfD ban remains unlikely due to high legal hurdles, Spahn’s suggestion signals a willingness to target individual figures seen as threats to democratic norms. The move also aligns with growing pressure on mainstream parties to draw clearer red lines against far-right participation in governance.
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