Far-right AfD designated 'extremist' by German security service
Alice Weidel, joint AfD leader, said the decision was a "severe blow against German democracy". PHOTO: REUTERS
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has formally designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a right-wing extremist organisation, opening the door for state surveillance and reigniting debates over a potential ban.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) announced on Friday that it had concluded a thorough audit of the far-right party, concluding it poses a threat to the country's democratic order.
“The AfD undermines Germany’s free democratic order through persistent xenophobic, anti-Islamic, and anti-minority rhetoric,” the BfV stated.
This designation permits the use of intelligence tools — including surveillance, wiretapping, and monitoring of communications — against the national party as a whole, not just its regional branches, several of which had already been classified as extremist.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has formally designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a right-wing extremist organisation, opening the door for state surveillance and reigniting debates over a potential ban.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) announced on Friday that it had concluded a thorough audit of the far-right party, concluding it poses a threat to the country's democratic order.
“The AfD undermines Germany’s free democratic order through persistent xenophobic, anti-Islamic, and anti-minority rhetoric,” the BfV stated.
This designation permits the use of intelligence tools — including surveillance, wiretapping, and monitoring of communications — against the national party as a whole, not just its regional branches, several of which had already been classified as extremist.
The incoming German government confirmed that it would review whether to initiate a formal ban of the AfD, a move that would be both legally complex and politically divisive.
Social Democrat leader Lars Klingbeil, who is set to become Germany’s next finance minister, said the AfD is “an attack on Germany.”
“They want a different country, they want to destroy our democracy,” Klingbeil told Bild newspaper. “We must take that very seriously.”
However, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged caution, saying any move to outlaw the party must be “evaluated carefully.”
The AfD, which has grown in popularity amid public dissatisfaction over immigration and economic concerns, condemned the designation as politically driven.
“We are being publicly discredited and criminalised,” said co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
Anton Baron, a party MP in Baden-Wuerttemberg, claimed mainstream parties were using "politically questionable means" to target their strongest opposition.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser defended the move, stressing the audit was based on an independent 1,100-page investigation with no political interference.
The decision comes ahead of Friedrich Merz’s swearing-in as Chancellor, with coalition parties already debating how to navigate the AfD’s presence in parliament.
The AfD had been under observation since 2021 as a suspected extremist case. The new classification formalises that status nationwide. The BfV estimates that of 38,800 far-right extremists in Germany, over 10,000 are linked to the AfD.
Some factions — including three eastern regional branches and the party's youth wing — were previously labelled as extremist.
Legal experts say banning a political party in Germany requires constitutional court approval and compelling evidence that the group seeks to actively dismantle the democratic order — a threshold not easily met.
Social Democrat leader Lars Klingbeil, who is set to become Germany’s next finance minister, said the AfD is “an attack on Germany.”
“They want a different country, they want to destroy our democracy,” Klingbeil told Bild newspaper. “We must take that very seriously.”
However, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged caution, saying any move to outlaw the party must be “evaluated carefully.”
The AfD, which has grown in popularity amid public dissatisfaction over immigration and economic concerns, condemned the designation as politically driven.
“We are being publicly discredited and criminalised,” said co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
Anton Baron, a party MP in Baden-Wuerttemberg, claimed mainstream parties were using "politically questionable means" to target their strongest opposition.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser defended the move, stressing the audit was based on an independent 1,100-page investigation with no political interference.
The decision comes ahead of Friedrich Merz’s swearing-in as Chancellor, with coalition parties already debating how to navigate the AfD’s presence in parliament.
The AfD had been under observation since 2021 as a suspected extremist case. The new classification formalises that status nationwide. The BfV estimates that of 38,800 far-right extremists in Germany, over 10,000 are linked to the AfD.
Some factions — including three eastern regional branches and the party's youth wing — were previously labelled as extremist.
Legal experts say banning a political party in Germany requires constitutional court approval and compelling evidence that the group seeks to actively dismantle the democratic order — a threshold not easily met.