A cross-party group of German lawmakers is advancing a proposal to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, citing its threat to the democratic order.

Led by CDU's Marco Wanderwitz, the initiative aims to bring the proposal to the Bundestag for discussion as early as next week.

The group argues that the AfD's actions and rhetoric undermine Germany's democratic values, warranting a ban.

While some politicians, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, express skepticism, the proposal is gaining traction, with hopes of securing significant parliamentary support.

If approved, the Federal Constitutional Court would handle the ban process, which could take several years.

Critics warn that a ban might fuel the AfD's narrative of victimhood, but supporters insist on the necessity to protect democracy from extremist threats.