Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist organization, granting authorities increased powers to oversee the party and intensifying discussions on its potential ban.
This decision follows the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) attaining second place in the national elections in February and achieving notable success in various local elections, particularly in the former communist regions of the east.
The BfV domestic intelligence service, which had already labeled several local AfD branches as right-wing extremist, has decided to apply this designation to the entire party due to its efforts to “undermine the free, democratic” system in Germany.
It specifically pointed to the “xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic, and anti-Muslim remarks made by key party officials.”
The AfD has announced plans to pursue legal action against the recent classification.
The co-leaders of the AfD expressed their intent to legally contest the BfV’s classification of the party as extremist, characterizing the decision as a “serious blow to German democracy.”
“The AfD is being publicly discredited and criminalized just before a change in government,” Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla stated in their announcement.
The party “will persist in legally defending itself against these defamatory claims that threaten democracy,” the statement further remarked.
This new label has also reignited discussions regarding the banning of the party, increasing political tensions in Europe’s leading economy, where conservative Friedrich Merz is poised to assume power next Tuesday at the head of a coalition government with the center-left SPD.
Ralf Stegner, a politician from the SPD, informed news outlet Der Spiegel that there should be stronger efforts to “combat these enemies of democracy using all available political and legal measures.”
Deputy AfD leader Stephan Brandner referred to the decision as “complete nonsense.”
The BfV articulated the AfD’s attempts to ‘undermine the free, democratic’ order in Germany.
He stated that it “has absolutely nothing to do with law and order, and is simply a political maneuver.”
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that there had been “no political influence” in the investigations conducted by the independent BfV.
While announcing its decision, the intelligence agency stated that the AfD “seeks to exclude specific population groups from equal participation in society.”
In particular, the AfD does not regard German citizens with migrant backgrounds from countries with large Muslim populations as “equal members of the German people,” it added.
“This is evident in the numerous xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic, and anti-Muslim remarks made by key party officials,” it stated.
‘Firewall’
Since its founding in 2013, the party has experienced fluctuations in its popularity but has recently surged due to heightened concerns about migration amidst a recession in Europe’s largest economy.
It secured second place in the general election in February, garnering over 20% of the vote, trailing only behind the center-right CDU led by Mr. Merz.
Recent opinion polls have shown the party either neck-and-neck with or slightly ahead of the CDU/CSU alliance.
In a nation still grappling with its dark history from World War II, established parties have vowed to avoid collaborating with the AfD.
Friedrich Merz reaffirmed his stance against cooperating with the AfD despite previously depending on their support.
Mr. Merz broke this so-called “firewall” against the AfD during the election campaign by leveraging their support to pass a parliamentary motion for stricter immigration policies, leading to widespread outrage and nationwide protests.
He has since committed to not working with the party as he has formed a coalition with the SPD of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
During the election campaign, the AfD received enthusiastic support from Elon Musk, a US tech billionaire and close advisor to former President Donald Trump.
Mr. Musk claimed that only the AfD could “save Germany,” appeared virtually at one of their rallies, and hosted an interview with party co-leader Ms. Weidel on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
The party has frequently attracted controversy, with leading members accused of employing banned Nazi slogans and downplaying the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
It has also faced accusations of having close connections to Russia, and earlier this week, a former aide to an AfD MEP was charged with suspected espionage on behalf of China.
