Planned Ban of Extremist Party Takes First Hurdle ================================== F.A.Z. BERLIN. A government-backed proposal to outlaw a right-wing extremist party accused of inspiring neo-Nazi violence cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday in the German parliament. A majority in the Bundestag's interior and judicial committees backed the motion calling on the Federal Constitutional Court to declare the National Democratic Party a threat to German democracy. A floor vote is set for Friday. The small opposition Free Democrats were the only party in the Bundestag against a ban, arguing that a ban would merely drive neo-Nazis underground. December 6 Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 2000 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
