In the podcast “Ronzheimer,” Steinbrück suggested that establishing clear ‘red lines’ could facilitate a conditional dialogue with the AfD, contingent upon the party’s adherence to democratic principles. He referenced historian Andreas Rödder’s call for a ‘conditioned willingness to engage’ with the AfD, provided it distances itself from extremist positions. Steinbrück rejected the notion of a ban on the AfD, arguing that such measures could alienate potential voters and be difficult to enforce legally. Instead, he proposed revoking the electoral rights of specific party members, such as Björn Höcke, citing concerns over their alignment with democratic values.