Germany's president has suggested that the hard-right Alternative for Germany party could face a ban, warning political rivals against cooperating with extremist groups. Speaking on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized that any party showing hostility towards the constitution must consider the possibility of being outlawed. The rise of the Alternative for Germany, now the second largest party in the Bundestag and leading in some polls, has alarmed mainstream politicians, who describe it as a threat to Germany's constitutional order.

Steinmeier described the current period as one of the gravest threats to German democracy since reunification, citing both external actors and right-wing extremist forces. He called for urgent action to defend democracy, stressing that banning a political party is a last resort with a high legal threshold, but justified if the party seeks to undermine the constitution. Over 150 members of parliament have called for some form of ban, though only the constitutional court can enforce it.

The surge in support for the Alternative for Germany has been attributed to widespread dissatisfaction with the current government, which faces infighting and policy deadlock. The governing coalition, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has struggled to meet public expectations, particularly on issues like the economy and immigration. As a result, the Alternative for Germany and the Christian Democrats are now neck-and-neck in national polls, while the Social Democrats have seen their popularity decline further.