Petitions in seven federal states: Over 44,000 signatures for the AfD ban – hearing in the Lower Saxony state parliament tomorrow, Wednesday, 26 November 2025

The nationwide campaign Defend Human Dignity – AfD Ban Now! has launched petitions in seven federal states, together with regional partners, to initiate proceedings to ban the AfD.

In Hanover, a petition has already been successful. More than 10,000 signatures were collected in just six weeks. As a result, a hearing on the ban of the AfD will take place in the Lower Saxony state parliament on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. The petition calls on the state government to actively promote the initiation of a ban procedure in the Bundesrat. The petition was initiated by the civil society alliance Aufstehen gegen Rassismus (Stand Up Against Racism), an ally in the AfD-Verbot Jetzt! (AfD Ban Now!) campaign, and supported by the Hanover City Association of the Green Party. Lower Saxony has a coalition government between the SPD and the Greens. In June, Minister President Olaf Lies (SPD) expressed his openness to reviewing a party ban procedure.

Petitions and open letters are also currently appealing to the respective state governments in six other federal states to vote in favour of the AfD ban proceedings in the Bundesrat: these include Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Saarland and Saxony-Anhalt. A total of over 44,000 signatures have been collected so far.

"There has been a worrying silence in the Bundestag regarding the AfD ban proceedings. But there is no reason to sound the all-clear. Quite the contrary. The proceedings to ban the AfD must finally be initiated,‘ emphasises Malte Engeler, press spokesman for the campaign, adding: ’Initiating proceedings to ban the AfD via the Bundesrat would be one way to break through the irresponsible blockade of the Merz Union in the Bundestag."

The SPD, Greens and Left Party, which form or participate in governments in several federal states, are in favour of banning the AfD. There is therefore a realistic chance that the Bundesrat will clear the way for the constitutional judges in Karlsruhe. Alongside the Bundestag and the federal government, the Bundesrat is one of the state bodies that can apply to the Federal Constitutional Court to review a party ban. Numerous renowned constitutional lawyers already attested to the prospects of success for the ban proceedings in November 2024.

An overview of the current petitions can be found on our website:
https://afd-verbot.jetzt/de/petitionen

If you have any questions, please contact the campaign's press officers at:
Email: presse@afd-verbot.jetzt