Analysis of AfD in Brandenburg's Performance According to the Report - Analysis of the AfD's position in Brandenburg: Insights from the latest report
Brandenburg Classifies AfD as Confirmed Far-Right Extremist Organization
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the German state of Brandenburg has been officially classified as a "confirmed right-wing extremist organization" by the Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution. This classification, announced in August 2025, is based on findings that the party in Brandenburg violates human dignity and the state constitution, regularly breaches the principles of democracy and rule of law, and has increasingly intensified contacts with right-wing extremist groups since 2020.
The classification marks a significant escalation in official scrutiny and potential legal consequences for the AfD in Brandenburg. According to the report, the party is highly xenophobic and partly racist, advocating an ethnocultural definition of the German people that excludes certain groups, notably immigrants and Muslims. The party representatives are also described as questioning the legitimacy of constitutional procedures, aiming to undermine the German political system.
This classification in Brandenburg follows similar moves in several other states, including Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. At the federal level, in May 2025, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution also classified the AfD overall as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor." The party leadership has criticized these moves as politically motivated and an attack on democracy.
Political scientist Thomeczek predicts that no significant turnaround is to be expected for the AfD due to the new classification. In a June poll, the AfD was ahead with 32% of the vote, and the party has around 3,450 members, making it the strongest opposition faction in the state parliament in Potsdam.
It is important to note that a general employment ban based on party membership is not connected with the current classification. Each case must be examined individually. The Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution's report on the AfD concludes that the party is actively opposed to the liberal-democratic basic order.
The classification of the AfD in Brandenburg was made public due to the government crisis in Brandenburg that occurred in connection with the classification of the AfD by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The AfD's lawsuit against this classification in Saxony remained unsuccessful before the Higher Administrative Court in Bautzen. The court date for the lawsuit in Saxony-Anhalt is scheduled for April 2024, and the AfD is also taking legal action against this classification. The controversial issue of a potential AfD ban procedure remains unresolved.
In addition to the classification in Brandenburg, the report mentions close contacts with extremist groups, the magazine "Compact", the "Identitarian Movement" around the Austrian far-right extremist Martin Sellner, and the now-disbanded "Institute for State Policy." The report states that the AfD violates human dignity and wants to destroy the democratic state with its institutions. The AfD attacks the inviolability of human dignity enshrined in the Basic Law by making a distinction in the kind of value and rights a person has.
The AfD's legal disputes against these classifications are still pending, and court decisions are still to be made. Several other states are calling for stricter examinations, including loyalty checks for future civil servants and reviews of party financing. The new classification of the AfD is sparking discussions about how to deal with its members in the civil service. The issue remains a contentious and ongoing debate in German politics.
- Given the escalating classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a confirmed far-right extremist organization in multiple EC countries, concerns about the party's policies and affiliations extend beyond German borders, raising questions about the impact of their policies on aspects such as general news, politics, and employment opportunities within these countries.
- War-and-conflicts within and among states can potentially exacerbate existing political tensions, and the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the AfD's classification as a far-right extremist organization could serve as a notable case study for how politics, crime-and-justice, and civil rights are balanced in an era of heightened polarization and shifting allegiances.
