Extremism clause: Green premier Özdemir to examine Söder's proposal

Baden-Württemberg's Minister-President Cem Özdemir (Greens) has not ruled out sanctions against state governments that overstep the limits of the rule of law. “Of course we have to look very closely when a state government crosses rule-of-law boundaries,” he told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, adding that all options should be examined. On the initiative by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU), Özdemir said: “We will take a close look at the proposal from Bavaria.” He added: “Our compass is the Basic Law.”

Söder wants states with extremist parties in government cut off from payments under Germany's fiscal equalisation system. “We will not subsidise state policies that want expropriations and preach antisemitism,” he told the Augsburger Allgemeine. According to ZDFheute, Bavaria has opened talks with Hesse and Baden-Württemberg; Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) backs the idea. It would affect Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin if governments led by the AfD or the Left Party were formed there. The clause would require changes to the equalisation system.