Germany has officially classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist threat, removing restrictions on comprehensive surveillance of the party.
On May 2, 2025, Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution announced that the far-right, anti-immigrant AfD, which finished second in the federal election, has been formally categorized as a right-wing extremist organization. This new classification allows intelligence agencies to monitor the AfD more extensively, such as by recruiting undercover informants and intercepting communications.
In a statement, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution said that the AfD's "ethnic and bloodline-based concept of nationality is at odds with Germany's liberal democratic order." The party has sought to exclude German citizens with immigrant backgrounds, particularly from Muslim countries, from being considered part of the "German people," treating them as second-class citizens. Several leaders of the party have made numerous statements in various contexts that are racist, anti-minority, Islamophobic, and anti-Muslim.
This decision was made just before conservative leader Friedrich Merz is set to be sworn in as the new Chancellor of Germany next week and form a coalition government. Although the federal election took place several months ago, the AfD's influence has grown stronger, and it theoretically has the right to chair several key parliamentary committees, though it still requires support from other parties. However, this decision may inadvertently boost the AfD's development, reinforcing the narrative that the party is being "marginalized" by mainstream parties.
Certain factions of the AfD, such as its youth wing, were previously classified as far-right extremist organizations, and the party as a whole was labeled as a suspected extremist case in 2021. The AfD has attempted to legally prevent security agencies from monitoring it but has not succeeded.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831010773781642/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.