TRTwo German politicians, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Cem Özdemir, have urged the initiation of legal proceedings to ban branches of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in four eastern states, Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg, due to their 'ethno-nationalist' stance. This call comes ahead of a crucial election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD could gain power for the first time. The AfD's branches in these regions are labeled as confirmed right-wing extremist groups by intelligence agencies, which allows for monitoring by authorities. Despite this classification, the AfD has gained significant support, polling over 40% in Saxony-Anhalt, driven by dissatisfaction with the political establishment in Berlin. However, mainstream parties maintain a 'firewall' policy, refusing to collaborate with the AfD, although previous governments have declined to ban the party despite its extremist views.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the perspectives of two German politicians calling for legal action against specific branches of the AfD, while also providing context on the AfD's rise in popularity and the existing 'firewall' policy among mainstream parties. It does not exhibit clear bias toward either side,
