Controversy over extremist labeling: Minister criticizes AfD party
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Brandenburg has found itself at the centre of a political storm, following its classification as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavour" by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). This classification, issued in May 2025, allows for monitoring and potential limitations on public funding, and has sparked debate and legal action.
The classification has been met with resistance from AfD leaders, who claim it is politically motivated. The party has sued the BfV, accusing it of violating freedom of speech and legitimate criticism of immigration policies[1]. Other parties, like the SPD, have called for a ban on the AfD based on its alleged unconstitutional activities[2].
Brandenburg, like other states, follows federal guidelines and would adhere to the federal classification for monitoring purposes. However, specific details about Brandenburg's regional office's stance or actions regarding the AfD's classification are not mentioned in the available information.
The current Interior Minister, René Wilke, has been vocal in his criticism of the AfD. During a recent state parliament debate, he urged the party to "do their homework" and write the upgrade nicely, suggesting that the classification could be published as early as that evening if the state board of the AfD consented[3]. The upgrade of the AfD as far-right occurred during the tenure of Wilke's predecessor, Katrin Lange (SPD). Lange, who resigned after internal disputes, allegedly dismissed the head of the constitutional protection, Joerg Mueller, because he informed her too late about the classification of the state AfD as a confirmed far-right extremist organization[4].
Fraktion leader Hans-Christoph Berndt wants the classification note to be made public as it defames the party. Berndt suggests that the classification should be removed and is open to the classification note being published if the state board of his party issues a corresponding statement[5]. The AfD faction calls the classification of "undoubtedly extremist tendencies" a "massive interference in the political competition".
The parliamentary majority voted against the AfD's motion for the classification note to be made public. The Interior Minister received applause from the SPD and the opposition CDU during the state parliament debate. Wilke accused the AfD of being responsible for the suppression of the upgrade of their classification, while Lange, the former Interior Minister, advocated for political engagement with the AfD and expressed skepticism towards banning the party[6].
The new classification was temporarily suspended due to a lawsuit by the AfD at the Potsdam Administrative Court. The lawsuit, and the debate surrounding the AfD's classification, continues to dominate political discourse in Brandenburg.
[1] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus176277484/AfD-klagt-bundesweit-gegen-BfV-weil-Freiheit-der-Meinung-verletzt [2] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/spd-fordert-afd-verbot-weil-die-partei-unvereinbar-mit-der-verfassung-ist/27374772.html [3] https://www.tag24.de/news/politik/brandenburg/wilke-afd-klage-verfassungsschutz-klage-brandt-10028240 [4] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article203901702/Lange-kritisiert-Verfassungsschutz-Mueller-wurde-zu-spat-mit-AfD-klage-informiert.html [5] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/brandenburg/wilke-afd-klage-verfassungsschutz-klage-brandt-10028240 [6] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/brandenburg/wilke-afd-klage-verfassungsschutz-klage-brandt-10028240
The AfD's classification as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor" has sparked a significant debate in policy-and-legislation, with the party suing the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, alleging a violation of freedom of speech and legitimate criticism of immigration policies. The party's faction leader, Hans-Christoph Berndt, has called for the classification note to be made public, claiming it defames the party and suggesting that it interferes with political competition.
