Tolerance, Prohibition of Political Parties and ECtHR

Is the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) tolerant of extremist political parties? In interpreting Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights which enshrines the freedom of assembly and association, the Court is concerned with this issue. This article critically discusses some of the theses put forward in the Court’s judgments. It aims to check some of its perspectives and bring philosophical nuances regarding tolerance. Tolerance can help build a plural and free-thinking society that is so important for the realization of political and democratic rights. The Court’s agreement to ban only two political parties allows us to reflect on the willingness to listen to more extreme political convictions, even if they bother, shock and harass the public sphere.