[Deutsche Welle] EP- The Question of Democracy

Following a controversial speech by an Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) delegate at the European Parliament (EP) earlier today, calls for the party’s suspension are growing louder. Specifically, Austria’s ÖPV demands that the AfD, which is officially classified as an extremist entity, should be permanently banned from the EP.

“We, as democratic parties, stand united in the belief that this [the speech] is inappropriate,” states the ÖPV delegate, referring to the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and his own bloc, European People’s Party (EPP). “The speech proved how extreme-right the AfD is. The party does not fit with European values, which is why we want to suspend them from the Parliament,” he continues to explain to Deutsche Welle. 

The S&D group echoes this statement. “The AfD is officially a right-wing extremist party. [..] We have to reflect the voters, but we have to do so in a democratic way. And the more the AfD drifts away from that, the more we have to take action,” maintains a Swedish delegate.

The AfD itself does not share this definition of democracy. In a press statement, the party’s delegate expresses outrage with the ÖPV’s demand.“It is simply undemocratic to ban such a party from the European Parliament,” the representative complains. “Given the current national polls in Germany, we stand at 25%. [...] To claim to be democratic while banning  25% of the voices and opinions within the country is simply unacceptable and the AfD will stand up for these voices and continue to fight against the undemocratic principles that others are trying to push”.

The EP has not yet responded to the ÖPV’s request. But with right-wing extremism growing across Europe, the question of democracy does gain traction and will need answers soon.