On July 3, 2025, Prof. Dr. Emanuel V. Towfigh was interviewed by journalist Marion Mück-Raab for the German science program »NANO« which is broadcasted on the public television channels »3sat« and »ZDF«. The interview addressed the question: “What legal and practical consequences would a ban of the political party AfD (Alternative for Germany) by the Federal Constitutional Court have?”

Prof. Towfigh explained that such a ban would have far-reaching practical consequences. The AfD, a right-wing populist party currently represented in the German Bundestag, would be required to close all offices, cease communication, and withdraw all promotional material. Employment contracts would be terminated, and the party’s assets could be confiscated by order of the Federal Constitutional Court, Germany’s highest court for constitutional matters. Any attempt to re-establish the party under a different name or through a “substitute organization” would also be prohibited. The AfD would immediately lose all parliamentary mandates: for direct mandates (candidates elected directly in constituencies), new elections would be required—currently this would affect 42 constituencies. For seats obtained via state party lists, the mandates would simply be voided without replacement, resulting in the loss of 110 Bundestag seats. Consequently, the German Parliament (»Bundestag«) would shrink considerably, and the relative balance of political power would shift. Party-affiliated organizations and foundations could also be affected if they have close ideological or personnel links to the AfD. Importantly, there is no legal remedy against a party ban once the Federal Constitutional Court has decided.

The interview was broadcast on September 8, 2025, on the program »NANO« (3sat) and can be viewed

(starting at minute 11:11).

[Translated with DeepL]