by Temitope Oladeji
02/05/2025
Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has officially specified that the far-right Alternative für Germany (AfD) party is a “proven right-wing extremist organization,” escalating the government’s response to what it sees as a growing threat to the country’s democratic order.
The decision, which was announced on Friday, marks the most significant action yet by Berlin to curb the influence of the AfD, which has gained substantial support across the country.
According to the BfV, the agency now has conclusive evidence that the AfD actively undermines the principles of Germany’s democratic constitution.
A comprehensive 1,000-page internal report, as reported by public broadcaster ARD, forms the basis of the classification. It details repeated violations by the AfD of key constitutional tenets, including human dignity and the rule of law, core pillars of the German Basic Law.
This marks the first time in the Federal Republic’s modern history that a party with representation in the national parliament has been formally declared extremist.
While individual AfD branches in states such as Saxony and Thuringia had already received similar designations, this is the first nationwide classification of its kind.
However, the ruling does not ban the AfD, it significantly expands the tools available to German authorities. Under judicial oversight, intelligence services are now permitted to employ undercover agents, monitor communications, and expand surveillance of the party’s activities.
Politically, the classification intensifies pressure on mainstream parties to sever any potential alliances or cooperation with the AfD at all levels of government.
It also reignites debate over whether the party should ultimately face a formal ban, an outcome that would require a ruling from Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court and a motion from the federal government or Bundestag, making it a politically and legally arduous process.