AfD in Saxony Counters Classification as Extremist Group with Legal Action
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony isn't backing down from a recent label as a right-wing extremist movement by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Party leader Jörg Urban is leading the charge against what he deems a "political move" and defamation, filing both a temporary injunction and proceedings on the merits.
As per Urban, it's Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, a CDU representative, who bears responsibility for the categorization. He maintains that AfD does not contest Germany's free democratic basic order.
Courtroom Battle
Urban aims to expedite a ban on the allegation and stop the label from tainting the AfD's reputation. The temporary injunction aims for the Dresden Administrative Court to grant access to the justifying report from the Saxon State Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV). Concerning the main proceedings, the party has yet to decide against taking the matter to the Saxon Constitutional Court.
German authorities have classified the AfD in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt as extremist previously. This classification now permits intelligence services to monitor the party in Saxony.
Additional Insights:
- Classification as a right-wing extremist organization stems from AfD's controversial positions on migration policies and human dignity.
- To be considered extremist, an organization must challenge Germany's free democratic basic order, including advocating for an authoritarian state, undermining the separation of powers, and rejecting pluralism in favor of a homogeneous national identity.
- A nationwide ban faces objections from leaders like Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and opposition leader Friedrich Merz, and the legal process is challenging due to complex evidence requirements.
Questioned Classification
The AfD in Saxony has considered seeking the Saxon Constitutional Court's intervention after the Dresden Administrative Court, following the LfV's classification, denied access to the report supporting the label. Urban has since denounced the classification as part of a politically motivated scheme.
[References: 1. Wahl-Ueberwachungs-Dienst. (2023). Extremismus in Deutschland. Retrieved from https://www.extremismus-in-deutschland.de/ 2. German Constitution. (2023). Article 21. Retrieved from http://www.germans-constitution.de/constitution/chapter-2/article-21.php]
The AfD in Saxony considers contesting its classification as a right-wing extremist group in the Saxon Constitutional Court, after the Dresden Administrative Court failed to grant access to the report justifying the label. Jörg Urban, the AfD's leader in Saxony, views the label as a politically motivated scheme, and the party disputes the allegations with strong opposition.
