The German Federal Constitutional Court issued a historic ruling on Tuesday. The right-wing extremist party “Die Heimat” – formerly the NPD – is banned from funding by state parties for six years. The ruling is seen as a “blueprint” for the AfD’s approach.
The legislature created the possibility to exclude funding after the second failed 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 objectives.
The legislature subsequently created the possibility of exclusion from party financing. The Bundestag, the Bundesrat and the federal government have submitted a request to the Constitutional Court to exclude the NPD and possible replacement parties from party financing for six years.
Donations are no longer tax deductible
The term is laid down by law. The ruling also means that tax breaks for the party and donations to it will no longer apply, which is likely to hit the group in particular.
The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) renamed itself ‘Die Heimat’ last June. It was the first case of its kind at Germany’s highest court.
NPD is now insignificant
The NPD recently became ineligible for state funding. In 2020, the right-wing extremists received the last cash injection of 370,600 euros – the party received 3.02 percent of the votes in the 2016 state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The court’s statement reads:
For comparison: in 2016, when the party achieved more electoral successes, it was entitled to more than 1.1 million euros. The social democratic SPD received the highest amount at the time, almost 51 million euros.
“Blueprint” for the AfD?
During the oral hearing in July last year, a scandal arose because no party representative appeared – according to the court, a one-off event. “Die Heimat” also did not send anyone to the verdict. The party stated on its website at the time that it would not ‘allow itself to be made into an extra in a legal simulation’. The negotiations will ‘degenerate into a show trial’. Since attendance is not required, the court continued the hearing.
The decision could also be a ‘blueprint’ for the AfD. For example, CSU boss Markus Söder raised the option of a funding exclusion procedure in the current debate over a possible AfD ban.
Source: Krone
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