German intelligence agency labels AfD as ‘right-wing extrem’ force | World News

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency on Friday classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the biggest opposition party in the country, as “right-wing extrem”, paving the way for expanded surveillance of its activities across the country.
As per news agency Associated press, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) cited the party’s “extrem character” and its repeated disregard for human dignity, particularly through rhetoric targeting migrants from mostly Muslim nations. The classification, while not a ban, allows the BfV to monitor AfD using informants and electronic surveillance tools nationwide.
AfD, which placed second in Germany’s national elections in February, slammed the move as politically motivated. “It is complete nonsense, has absolutely nothing to do with law and order, and is purely political in the fight of the cartel parties against the AfD,” AP quoted deputy chairman Stephan Brandner as saying.
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The BfV said the party seeks to deny certain population groups equal participation in society and to impose unconstitutional, unequal treatment—citing court rulings from two German states that found AfD undermines the democratic order.

AfD has faced scrutiny in the past over links to far-right extrems and Russia. Of the 38,800 far-right extrems identified in Germany last year, more than 10,000 were AfD members.
“The ethnic and descent-based understanding of the people prevailing within the party is incompatible with the free democratic basic order,” the BfV said. It also flagged “continuous agitation” against minorities, citing xenophobic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Islamic statements senior AfD officials, as per the AP.
Interior Miner Nancy Faeser called the decision “clear and unambiguous,” based on a 1,100-page neutral and legally sound assessment free from political interference.Story continues below this ad
Under German law, any surveillance must still meet the principle of proportionality. A ban on the AfD would require a case before the Federal Constitutional Court initiated either chamber of parliament or the federal government.

AfD, which was founded 12 years ago a group of Eurosceptic professors, has as per it’s critics radicalised further with each change in leadership as it ousted more moderate figures, The Guardian reported.
The party is now led Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who during recent campaigns openly advocated for the “remigration” of people they consider “poorly integrated”, including German citizens with foreign roots.
AfD has also drawn widespread condemnation for calling into question Germany’s culture of Holocaust remembrance. It has repeatedly employed thinly veiled Nazi-era slogans—many of which are banned under German law.Story continues below this ad
In a controversial online chat with Elon Musk in January, Weidel even referred to Adolf Hitler as a commun, sparking outrage among horians and political commentators.
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