Is the AfD party banned after being classified as extremist?
In a move that sparked widespread controversy, the Verfassungsschutz (German domestic intelligence) officially classified the AfD (Alternative for Germany) as a far-right party.
The decision came as part of a detailed report of 1100 pages, announced on Friday, which confirmed that the party promotes an "ethnic-national" understanding of German identity, which contradicts the fundamental principles of the free democratic system in the country.
The decision sparked angry reactions from party supporters, with some sarcastically commenting that it was merely a reaction to the rising popularity of the AfD in opinion polls. The party leader in Brandenburg, René Sprenger, described the government as considering the opposition a "state enemy" because it has lost the trust of voters. Both party leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, also issued a brief statement after hours of silence, announcing their intention to take legal action against the report.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated that the new classification came after a comprehensive and impartial assessment, denying any political interference in the timing or content of the report. The report was based on long-term monitoring covering the period from February 2021 to April 2025, and addressed the party's activities, political rhetoric, affiliations, and even the disbandment of the youth wing 'Junge Alternative' and its implications.
One of the fundamental reasons for the classification is the use of terms by AfD such as "Passdeutsche" (Germans by passport only) and "Umvolkung" (population replacement), in addition to xenophobic expressions like "Messermigranten" (migrants with knives) and calls for "mass deportations." The report also documented anti-Islamic language, where Muslims are generally associated with Islamic extremism.
The security agencies emphasized that their report is based on a legal assessment of the party's stance towards principles such as human dignity, democracy, and the rule of law, noting that many courts had previously agreed to classify it as a case of suspected extremism.
The step has once again sparked the debate about the possibility of legally banning the party, which is something the parliament previously failed to pass. However, some believe that this classification could pave the way for bringing the issue back to the table, especially if it is later supported by the judiciary. But so far, the report has not been made public, in order to avoid giving the party a chance to challenge it in court.
On the other hand, the party still faces difficulties in distancing itself from members who have sparked controversy with extremist statements, such as Matthias Helfrich, who previously described himself as the "friendly face of Nazism," yet was nominated and elected on the party's list for parliament.
The decision will increase the political isolation of AfD, especially with the continued refusal of the major parties, led by CDU, to form any alliances with it. It is believed that this classification will make it more difficult for the party to break the political "wall of isolation" that separates it from the other forces.