The Alternative for Germany Party respond to the decision of classifying the party as a far-right and danger to the country’s democracy

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party condemned the German intelligence agency’s decision to classify it as a far-right organization.

Its co-chairs, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, described the decision as a blow to democracy.

The two presidents continued in a statement that the party was being punished for being an opposition party, and affirmed that they would continue to defend the party against what they described as defamation that endangers freedom.

Mark Bernhard, spokesman for the Baden-Württemberg regional group, said the designation was an attempt at marginalization and exclusion, and a desperate act by the government, asserting that, “The SPD’s coup won’t succeed”.

“Interior Minister Nancy Faeser’s undemocratic attempt to exclude half of the bourgeois camp with the AfD will fail,” Bernhard continued.

He added that the right-wing party is the strongest political force and the only real opposition in Germany”.

He said that the designation would encourage people to vote for the party more in the future.

For her part, Alternative for Germany MP Christine Brinker said the actions of the domestic intelligence service were extremely dangerous.

Brinker questioned the credibility of this decision, arguing that intelligence agencies could only intervene in this manner in authoritarian regimes.

The MP defended the party, wrote on Facebook, “The party doesn’t base judgment on people based on race or ancestry,” adding, “Everyone who holds German citizenship is German… Origin or religion plays no role in this”.

Parliamentarian Beatrix von Storch said that democracy is in danger.

She commented on Facebook, saying, “The government that was voted in and is now only ‘temporarily’ in power declares that the opposition poses an extreme threat to democracy”.