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The debate surrounding the inclusion of members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party in the German parliament’s football team, FC Bundestag, highlights the larger issue of how to handle the AfD’s presence in German politics. The team, founded in 1967 as a way to foster cross-party cooperation, faced a crisis when a ban on AfD members was overturned by a court.
While some argue that AfD members should be allowed to participate as they were democratically elected, others, like Green lawmaker Kassem Taher Saleh, refuse to associate with what they see as a party representing extremist values. The decision to ban the AfD from the squad was met with relief by some members, but the court ruling has forced the team to reconsider its stance.
The larger question of how to deal with the AfD in German politics remains contentious. While mainstream parties maintain a „firewall“ around the party, some lawmakers have called for an outright ban. The issue extends beyond the football team, with debates over the AfD’s potential role in parliamentary leadership positions.
Ultimately, the debate over FC Bundestag reflects the broader challenge of balancing democratic principles with the exclusion of parties deemed a threat to those very values.
Centristische Parteien befürchteten, dass die Zulassung der AfD auf dem Rasen den Beginn eines gefährlichen Abhangs markieren würde, sagte Gross. „Das ist es, was sie fürchten: dass die AfD es als nächsten Schritt zur Normalisierung sieht. Ein kleiner Stein, der aus der Brandmauer genommen wird.“