New SPD chairwoman Bärbel Bas highlighted the importance of quickly determining whether there is enough evidence to justify a constitutional examination of the AfD's legality.

However, there is a lack of consensus within the governing coalition regarding the ban, with the CDU preferring to combat the AfD politically rather than through a ban.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed skepticism about the calls for a ban, citing high legal hurdles and insufficient evidence following a recent court ruling.

Despite the risks of a potential legal defeat, SPD leaders argue that inaction poses a greater threat to democracy than the challenges of pursuing a ban.

For a ban to proceed, it must be proven that the AfD is actively undermining democratic principles, as mere classification by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is not sufficient.

The SPD leadership is confident in their ability to gather the necessary evidence to support the ban, viewing right-wing extremism as a major threat to democracy in Germany.

The initiative for a ban on the AfD was unanimously accepted at the congress, overshadowing other contentious topics, indicating a strong party consensus on this issue.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is actively pursuing a ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD), with plans for immediate preparations discussed at their federal party congress in Berlin.

Delegates at the congress unanimously approved the formation of a federal-state working group tasked with gathering evidence to support the AfD's unconstitutionality, with intentions to file a ban application with the Federal Constitutional Court if sufficient evidence is found.

A significant topic of discussion included the potential reintroduction of mandatory military service, which was ultimately softened to favor a voluntary model.

Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier characterized the AfD as a party that undermines democracy, urging the use of constitutional tools to initiate a ban.

Carmen Wegge, a Bundestag member, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the AfD poses the greatest threat to democracy and is actively working to undermine it.