German Domestic intelligence classifies the Alternative for Germany party as a far-right party whose violate the free democratic system in the country

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, announced that it now considers the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party a confirmed right-wing extremist organization, having previously been classified as a suspected case.

The agency’s statement read, “Previous suspicions have now become a confirmed conviction in substantial parts”.

The deputy head of the agency, Sinan Selin, and his deputy, Silke Willems, explained that the statements and positions of the party and a number of its leaders contradict the principle of human dignity, referring to positions that the authorities consider a violation of the country’s free democratic system.

According to the agency’s assessment, “the prevailing understanding within the party of the concept of the people is based on ethnic and ethnic origin, which is completely incompatible with the principles of a free democratic system”.

The statement added, “The AfD, for example, believes that German citizens of immigrant origin, particularly from countries with a Muslim character, aren’t equal in their belonging to the German people, which the party defines based on ethnic criteria”.

The decision came after a thorough and comprehensive examination by experts, based on what the BfV described as “a large number of indications that the party seeks to undermine the democratic system”.

In May 2024, the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) authorized the intelligence service to monitor the party as a suspected case.

Now, with this new classification, its theoretically possible to initiate proceedings to ban the party, although the legal threshold remains very high.

This new classification is based on a confidential internal report prepared by the office and won’t be made public.

Reactions from within the AfD weren’t long in coming, with Emil Sanze, (74), the party’s chairman in Baden-Württemberg, saying, “This is a scandalous decision… It’s a purely political decision ahead of the chancellorship elections on May 6”.

Stefan Protschka, (47), the party’s chairman in Bavaria, said, “The AfD is the strongest party, and our membership is constantly growing… This is just another attempt to further discredit the party”.