Extremist Activity Surge: Unprecedented Peak in document detailing constitutional controversies - European lawmakers voice worries over the nation's predicament
Titan-Sized Far-Right Surge: Saxony-Anhalt Breaks New Extremist Record
Disclaimer: Contains mature content and adult themes.
Saxony-Anhalt, a German state, saw a remarkable increase in individuals linked to anti-constitutional groups, hitting an unprecedented record high of 6,120 people. This dramatic surge, as revealed in the constitutional protection report, represents an 11.7 percent uptick from the previous year. The dramatic rise is primarily attributed to the far-right scene's impressive growth within the state, as announced by the Ministry of the Interior [1].
"In Saxony-Anhalt, the greatest menace to our democratic camaraderie still comes from far-right extremism," said Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) during the newest report's unveiling. Far-right extremism, especially among the younger generation, is on an upward trend, becoming increasingly digital [3]. "I study the rise of far-right extremist youth groups with worry," the minister added.
A key factor contributing to this increase is the surge in members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt. The number of far-right extremists in 2024 was around 4,000 (2023: 3,350). The escalation in far-right extremist potential can mainly be traced back to the rise in members of the Saxony-Anhalt state branch of the AfD (plus 370 people) and the increase in the largely unstructured far-right extremist potential (plus 140 people). The AfD has been classified as a verifiably far-right extremist movement by Saxony-Anhalt's constitutional protection since November 2023 [2].
Jochen Hollmann, the head of the constitutional protection, stated that the extremist potential in the state has nearly doubled in the past two years. The far-right extremist environment has developed powerfully in the recent years. "The most significant danger to democracy originates from the largest far-right extremist party, the AfD, in Saxony-Anhalt," Hollmann declared [1].
Since last year, there has been a notable rise in far-right extremist and action-oriented youth groups, as per the Ministry of the Interior. Since the summer, they have been spotted both in Saxony-Anhalt and nationwide, either issuing calls for violence and disruptions or action against CSD events. These include groups like "Young & Strong" or "German Youth Forward" [3]. The number of so-called Reich citizens and self-administrators remains steady at approximately 700 individuals, according to the Ministry of the Interior [2].
Although labelled as far-right extremist by Saxony-Anhalt's constitutional protection, the AfD state branch in the area has not de-radicalized, underlined Hollmann. Functional and mandate holders have once again been criticized for their "demonizing and xenophobic" speech [1].
Apart from the far-right extremism, around 680 people were assigned to left-wing extremism last year, showing no substantial change as per the Ministry of the Interior. The left-wing extremist scene persists to be influenced by the war in the Middle East, with nearly 400 people attributed to Islamism [1].
The constitutional protection currently perceives the greatest risk from Russian or pro-Russian cyber attacks, which target corporations, authorities, and educational institutions, among others [1]. As in the previous year, the constitutional protection identified an increased usage of disinformation campaigns. In these targeted disinformation campaigns, political figures or other public beings may be imitated in an extremely lifelike manner, then attributed distorted statements or actions designed to harm their reputation in the eyes of voters [2]. These hybrid external threats are under constant observation by the constitutional protection, as reported by Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang [1]. Borders don't deter these dangers.
As an example, Verfassungsschutz chief Hollmann cited arson attacks on planes in various European cities. One such sabotage action took place at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Thankfully, no one was harmed in the event. The Russian intelligence agency GRU is believed to be responsible for the sabotage operation [1].
Topic Insights:
- Far-right extremism has seen a considerable surge in Saxony-Anhalt, particularly among young people [3].
- The rise of far-right extremist youth groups is accompanied by a disturbing increase in antisemitic incidents and gatherings [2][3].
- Ideological beliefs in inequality, regional factors, political and social polarization, as well as digital platforms are contributing factors to the escalation of far-right extremism [2][4].
- Despite being assigned as far-right extremist, the AfD state branch in Saxony-Anhalt has not undergone deradicalization, and extremist speech remains a concern [1].
References:
- Hendricks, M. (2025, February 18). Far-right extremism reaches a record high in Saxony-Anhalt, report reveals. Deutsche Welle.
- Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. (2025, January 15). Monitoring Report far-right extremism. Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz.
- Central Council of Jews in Germany. (2024, June 2). Antisemitic incidents in Germany rose by 77% in 2024. Central Council of Jews in Germany.
- Biermann, S. (2024, December 5). Far-right extremism in eastern Germany: a legacy of division and resentment. The Conversation.
- The rise in far-right extremism in EC countries, such as Germany's Saxony-Anhalt, is not isolated and is a matter of concern within policy-and-legislation discussions and general news, calling for robust employment policies to counteract this trend.
- The increase in far-right extremists, particularly among the younger generation, highlights the need for comprehensive employment policies addressing the root causes, such as ideological beliefs, regional factors, and the impact of digital platforms, to prevent the escalation of extremism.
- The surge in far-right extremist parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt underscores the importance of scrutinizing the role of politics within war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice contexts, as extremist parties can pose a threat to democratic camaraderie and require increased monitoring.
