Berlin, September 6th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – On March 5th, 1933, the last elections of the Weimar Republic took place. Back then, 43.9 percent voted for Adolf Hitler’s NSDAP. Today, another right-wing extremist party, the AfD, won state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.
The results are almost the same. Just like the AfD today, the NSDAP stood for racist policies. Both parties fought democracy. At least so far, only one of them was successful in destroying it. No, the AfD is not the “NSDAP 2”, but there are similarities.
September 6th, 2026, will go down in history as a dark day for the Federal Republic of Germany.
Banning Procedure
As long as the AfD is not banned, it will likely win more elections. By now, this racist, Putin-loving organization, which wants this country to leave NATO and the European Union, even is the strongest party nation-wide, according to the latest polls.
There were hopes the AfD would crush itself, just like other right-wing parties did, such as “Die Republikaner” or the DVU. It did not happen. In order to save Germany’s democracy, a banning procedure needs to be initiated. The federal government’s refusal to initiate those proceedings is irresponsible.
Recently, political scientists compiled 2,000 items of evidence against the AfD. Many experts say a banning procedure would have good chances. Since those conspiracy theories, racism and isolationist policies do seem to sell in the information age as well, measures will have to be taken. The stupidity of many of the AfD supporters who voted against their own interests today is alarming.
Since the voters are obviously not stopping the AfD, we will have to fight it by implementing the one measure that has not been tried in this case: a ban.
If we do not stop the AfD, it will take power in Mecklenburg-Hither Pomerania, Saxony and Thuringia next. And it might hijack the federal government. The danger is too big by now. Leaders of democratic parties have said the country should just confront the AfD and discuss things openly. It did not work.
I am glad my grandparents are not witnessing this disgrace. After being forced to flee from Nazi Germany to Palestine in 1939, which became Israel in 1948, my grandmother never really wanted to return to Germany, even for visits. She did anyway because she needed to see her grandchildren once in a while. As it turns out now, she was right: The danger has not vanished. Nazis and racists with similar ideologies are on the rise again, 81 years after the Allies defeated fascism.
Eight years ago, I returned to Germany from abroad and wrote a piece about coming back to a good country. The Federal Republic is still democratic and free, but things are beginning to turn south. I am disgusted.
