Saturday, March 29, 2025
Germany’s domestic spy agency has officially classified the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as a German far-right party extremist organization. The new designation allows authorities to increase surveillance on the AfD, which recently became Germany’s largest opposition party.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) now holds the authority to tap phones, monitor private meetings, and deploy informants to track the AfD. The BfV said the party’s ideology, rooted in “ethnic-ancestry-based identity,” goes against the constitution. It accuses the AfD of seeking to exclude minorities from equal participation in German society.
Critics argue the German far-right party extremist label should lead to legal steps toward banning the AfD. Though such action can only come through Parliament or the government, calls for it are growing. The AfD has gained momentum by targeting immigration policies and the economic slump.
In February’s snap election, the AfD secured over 20% of the vote, coming in second. It also dominated state polls in Thuringia and other eastern regions. Analysts warn that if mainstream parties can’t restore public trust, the AfD could emerge as the leading party by 2029.
The party, now led by Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, has adopted increasingly extreme stances. Leaders promote “remigration” of poorly integrated individuals—including citizens—and have undermined Germany’s remembrance culture regarding the Holocaust. Weidel even referred to Adolf Hitler as a communist during a live discussion with Elon Musk.
The BfV’s extensive file describes how the AfD promotes hostility toward migrants, especially Muslims, and incites fear against asylum seekers. Founded in 2013 by Eurosceptic academics, the party has steadily shifted toward the far-right, expelling moderate voices in its leadership.
