- The right-wing extremist former NPD (now “Die Heimat”) will be excluded from state party funding in Germany for six years. This was decided by the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe.
- It was the first case of its kind at Germany’s highest court.
- The ruling is also likely to be discussed in relation to the AfD.
The former NPD will have its state party funding cut off for six years. This was decided by the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The judges ruled that the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), which has now renamed itself “Die Heimat”, is aimed at impairing or eliminating the free, democratic basic order. It was the first case of its kind at Germany’s highest court.
State subsidies for parties
The legislature created the option to exclude funding after the second unsuccessful NPD ban procedure in 2017. The Constitutional Court rejected a ban at the time because there was no evidence that the party could achieve its anti-constitutional goals. The Bundestag, Bundesrat and federal government had applied to the Constitutional Court to exclude the NPD and possible replacement parties from party financing for six years. The period is specified by law.
In Germany, parties can receive money from the state for their work – such as election campaigns. The sum is calculated according to a specific key, where, among other things, votes play a role. To be eligible, parties must achieve minimum shares in the most recent elections at state, federal and European levels. Since the NPD recently failed to do this, according to Bundestag figures, it has not received any money since 2021.
Legend:
Supporters of the right-wing radical NPD party on a march through Berlin.
Keystone/Oliver Weiken
The current decision of the Constitutional Court could also be a blueprint for the AfD. CSU boss Markus Söder, for example, brought up the option of a funding exclusion procedure in the current debate about a possible AfD ban. However, this is also likely to be a very lengthy process. In national polls, the AfD is currently at over 20 percent, and it could even become the strongest party in the state elections in three eastern German states in September.