In a recent podcast, Steinbrück emphasized the necessity of a ‘Brandmauer’ (firewall) against the AfD but also called for discussions on how to politically ‘de-radicalize’ the party. He proposed defining specific ‘red lines’ across various political domains, asserting that cooperation would only be possible if the AfD distances itself from extremist positions. Steinbrück rejected the idea of a ban on the AfD, arguing that it would alienate potential voters and be difficult to enforce legally. Instead, he suggested revoking the passive voting rights of certain party members, citing Björn Höcke as a candidate for such action under Article 18 of the German Constitution.