The Bern cantonal parliament wants the Swiss government to ban groups operating under the names “Antifa” or “Black Bloc”. Legal experts say the chances of success are slim. The push appears inspired by Hungary and the United States.

By a majority of 82 to 64 votes with three abstentions, the Bern Grand Council on Friday called on the cantonal government to seek a federal ban on groupings operating under the names “Antifa”, “Antifaschistische Aktion” or “Schwarzer Block”. The motion, passed on Wednesday, was tabled by Grand Councillor Thomas Fuchs of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP). It is directed at liberal Bern cantonal councillor Philippe Müller, who is to represent the cause before the responsible federal councillor Martin Pfister of the Centre Party.

The move was prompted by a militant pro-Palestinian solidarity demonstration in Bern on 11 October 2025, during which clashes erupted involving barricade-building and property damage. Just one day after the demonstration, Müller – who also serves as Bern’s director of security – publicly called for a ban on “Antifa”. Amnesty International and various Swiss media outlets, however, drew attention to brutal police violence and injuries sustained during attacks on the protest.

Slim prospects

The chances of the SVP-backed ban succeeding are considered low. In Switzerland, only al-Qaeda, Islamic State, and, more recently, Hamas are explicitly banned. The legal basis is Article 74 of the Intelligence Service Act, under which banning an organisation requires that it be concretely directed against internal or external security and that a corresponding United Nations resolution exists.

The federal government considers these conditions unmet in the present case. As far back as 2020, it responded to an earlier SVP initiative by stating that “Antifa” does not constitute an organisation in the legal sense. The National Council subsequently rejected that proposal. At the end of 2025 the demand was reintroduced at federal level; the government’s response in March 2026 was identical.

Inspired by the US and Hungary

The latest SVP push appears to have been inspired by Hungary and the United States, whose governments have pursued a markedly harsher line towards antifascist networks since last year. In November, the US State Department designated the German group “Antifa Ost” as a terrorist organisation, citing acts of violence against far-right individuals in Hungary.

Earlier, President Donald Trump had signed a decree labelling “Antifa” a “domestic terrorist organisation” and offering a reward of approximately €8,700,000 for information leading to the dismantling of the group’s alleged financial structures. According to media reports, the US government is planning an international conference against “Antifa” in The Hague for this summer.

Protest in Bern

On Thursday evening, 200 people gathered in Bern for a spontaneous demonstration against the parliamentary resolution. Several left-wing groups had issued the call. During the march, participants chanted “Siamo tutti antifascisti – wir sind alle Antifa!” A statement from the organisers criticised the demand to ban antifascist structures: at a time when fascism and authoritarianism were gaining ground worldwide, it was antifascism that was being targeted for criminalisation.

The demonstration also passed Bern’s town hall, outside which police officers in protective gear had taken up position. The gathering remained peaceful.

Published in German in „nd“.

Image: Amnesty International Switzerland.