BERLIN — On Friday, Germany’s domestic intelligence service announced its decision to categorize the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which secured second place in the national elections in February, as a “right-wing extremist” organization. This classification opens the door for enhanced surveillance of the party’s activities by authorities.
In their statement, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution criticized AfD’s stance, labeling it a risk to the democratic foundation of the nation. The agency particularly pointed out the party’s rhetoric against refugees and migrants as a significant concern, accusing them of violating principles of human dignity.
As a result of this classification, German officials will now have the means to employ informants as well as make use of tools like audio and video monitoring in their scrutiny of AfD’s activities across the country. However, this move potentially strengthens the party’s narrative of being unfairly targeted, a theme resonating with far-right groups gaining traction throughout Europe. The AfD has even caught the attention and support of figures such as tech mogul Elon Musk, known for his ties to the former U.S. President Donald Trump.
AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla strongly criticized the intelligence agency’s decision, dubbing it a “severe blow to German democracy” and suggesting that the action is politically driven, an accusation the government has refuted. They emphasized their intent to challenge the label legally.
Since its inception in 2013, the AfD has progressively shifted towards the right. Initially focused on opposing monetary bailouts within the eurozone, the party gained significant traction following its strong opposition to the then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s refugee policy in 2015, which allowed a substantial influx of asylum seekers into Germany.
The state intelligence agencies in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt had previously identified their local AfD branches as “proven right-wing extremist” entities.
The intelligence service justified its decision by arguing that the party’s definition of German identity, rooted in ethnic considerations, stands at odds with the nation’s foundational democratic principles. The agency accused the AfD of aiming to exclude certain demographics from participating equally in the social fabric, effectively assigning them a diminished legal status.
“The AfD, for instance, views German citizens with migratory backgrounds from largely Muslim nations as lesser members of the ethnically-defined German populace,” the agency stated, asserting that the party’s political stance incites continuous hostility against minorities.
Evidence of this is found in the party’s repeated xenophobic and anti-Muslim statements by prominent figures, as mentioned in the intelligence report. Furthermore, concern has been raised regarding the party’s connections with extremist elements and Russia, with over 10,000 of the 38,800 far-right extremists tallied by the agency last year holding membership in AfD.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser remarked that the decision was both “clear and unambiguous,” emerging from a thorough 1,100-page assessment devoid of political bias.
The surveillance authorized by this measure will adhere to German legal principles, particularly the “principle of proportionality.” This order, however, does not equate to an outright ban on AfD, which would necessitate action by the Federal Constitutional Court upon the request of either parliamentary chambers or the federal government.