Click here for the article.
In the article, Dr. Harding deals with current statements by federal ministers and prime ministers and analyzes their compatibility with the duty of political neutrality to which public officials are subject. In principle, it prohibits mayors, ministers and prime ministers from making negative comments about political parties.
However, Dr. Harding points out that an exception developed by the Federal Constitutional Court applies to the threats to democracy and the rule of law posed by the AfD, which allows public officials to warn against the AfD without violating the duty of political neutrality. If such a warning has a sufficient context in relation to a danger emanating from the AfD and there is a specific reason to make a statement, interference with the rights of the AfD is constitutionally justified.
Dr. Harding has already dealt with this topic in depth as part of his doctoral thesis. He is part of the Public Law Department at BROCK MÜLLER ZIEGENBEIN and acts in an advisory capacity together with Dr. Kalscheuer.