AfD's Urgent Appeal Dismissed by Constitutional Protection Court, Young Alternative Shuts Down
Court declines immediate action requested by AfD and Young Alternative - Appeal by AfD and Younger Alternative unsuccessfully challenged in court
In a turn of events, the long-standing dispute between the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has ended without a final decision on the merits. The Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia (OVG) recently announced that the urgent appeal from AfD's youth organization, "Young Alternative," was unsuccessful, as the party had been dissolved on March 31 of this year.
Back in May of last year, the Administrative Court of Cologne determined that the Constitutional Protection could classify and treat "Young Alternative" as a secured extremist endeavor. The urgent application in the matter was rejected by the court, prompting an appeal from the party to the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia. However, this appeal was also unsuccessful due to the BfV's statement that the youth organization was not classified as securely right-wing extremist post-dissolution.
The OVG communicated corresponding indications to both the party and the dissolved youth organization; yet, they continued with the main proceedings, only for the application to be denied as inadmissible. The resolution is final and not eligible for appeal.
Earlier in May, the Constitutional Protection designated the AfD as a "secured right-wing extremist endeavor," which sparked a lawsuit and an urgent application, aiming to prohibit the domestic intelligence service from classifying and treating the party as such. The Constitutional Protection later provided a "standstill undertaking," which meant the authority paused publicly designating the AfD as a secured right-wing extremist endeavor until a court decision is made.
- Alternative for Germany (AfD)
- Young Alternative
- Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV)
- Cologne
- NRW
- OVG
Insights
While the AfD's discussion with constitutional protection escalated, details of a confidential report emerged. The report described the AfD as a "racist and anti-Muslim organization," leading to the BfV's classification of the party as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor" in May 2025. AfD leaders contest this decision, asserting it to be politically motivated and a threat to German democracy. Potential restrictions on employment for AfD members, including civil servants or police officers, remain a concern.
The unsuccessful urgent appeal by "Young Alternative," the youth organization of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), was dismissed by the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia (OVG), due to the party's dissolution on March 31 of the current year. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Protection's classification of the AfD as a "secured right-wing extremist endeavor" in May 2025 has sparked a legal battle, with the party challenging the decision and expressing concerns about potential implications on employment opportunities for its members, especially in public service positions like civil servants or police officers.
Political debates surrounding this classification and its impact on German democracy continue to be a focus of policy-and-legislation discussions and general news, as society grapples with the delicacy of balancing national security and the protection of individual rights and freedoms.
