"German Court Bans State Funding for Far-Right Party, Sparking Debate on Extremist Financing"

Germany's Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of cutting state funding for an extreme-right party, sparking debate about whether legal steps should be taken to rein in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The decision follows a report revealing AfD members' presence at a secret meeting of right-wing extremists discussing a "master plan" to deport foreigners, prompting massive protests against right-wing radicalism. The ruling marks the first time a law allowing the revocation of state funding for parties undermining democracy has been put into practice, but the legal hurdles for banning or cutting funding for a party remain high. Many mainstream politicians fear that such efforts could backfire and strengthen the AfD.