No ban for Neo-Nazi NPD
Germany’s constitutional court ruled against banning the far-right NPD party saying it represents no threat to democracy.
ADVERTISEMENT#BREAKING: Germany's Constitutional Court rules against banning far-right NPD party https://t.co/eyTQb7QiDc#npdverbotpic.twitter.com/jkNATWiqIJ
— dwnews (@dwnews) January 17, 2017
The court agreed, however, that the NPD resembled the Nazi party and violated the constitution, but was in no position to govern.
The 16 German federal states wanted a ban on the NPD amid fears of a rise in far-right popularity following the arrival of large numbers of migrants.
Germany's highest court will announce its ruling today on whether to ban the neo-Nazi #NPD party https://t.co/v6NgHXBP3opic.twitter.com/KZIdGBRBVT
— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 17, 2017
Malu Dreyer, President of the Bundesrat spoke following the ruling :“Even if the ban was not pushed through, the constitutional court did confirm the anti-constitutional nature of the NPD. So the efforts of the trial as pursued by the federal states were of great importance and I can only thank the interior ministers for their painstaking work that made this process possible in the first place.”
The NPD lacks support across the country with the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany picking up the far-right vote.
Urteil am Bundesverfassungsgericht: Was Sie über das NPD-Verbotsverfahren wissen müssen https://t.co/6wkRI98QIMpic.twitter.com/8kpebDURW4
— CerberusNews Germany (@TheCerberusTV) January 17, 2017
A number of groups have condemned the courts decision calling it a retrograde step and a victory for intolerance.