Extremist groups endorse AfD Brandenburg, as claimed by the Minister
In a significant development, the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior has identified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as having anti-constitutional and anti-pluralistic positions and actions, based on their extremist right-wing orientation. This classification aligns with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which classified the AfD as a confirmed right-wing extremist group in May 2025 [1].
The BfV's classification was prompted by numerous public statements by AfD members that are racist, nationalist, discriminatory, and violate Article 3 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), which guarantees equality for all people. These positions contravene constitutional principles of pluralism and equality by promoting exclusionary and discriminatory ideologies [1].
In Brandenburg, the AfD's rhetoric and policies have been criticised for undermining democratic pluralism. The party promotes nationalism in a way that marginalises minorities and immigrants, and fosters discrimination that contradicts the constitutional commitment to equality [1]. The Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior’s investigations, as part of the broader federal assessment, have highlighted these anti-constitutional characteristics [1].
While the AfD in Brandenburg has toned down some rhetoric recently due to fear of bans, it remains widely viewed by constitutional watchdogs as pursuing extremist, anti-constitutional agendas [4]. The party is primarily targeting Muslims and is hostile to foreigners and partly racist [2].
René Springer, the AfD state chairman in Brandenburg, has criticised the delay in publishing the memo on the classification, calling it absurd. Springer described the memo as containing claims, insinuations, and quotes taken out of context [3]. The AfD has taken legal action against this classification and the lawsuit in the main proceedings remains in place [5].
The upgrade of the AfD’s classification by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been put on hold until a decision is made. The AfD has not given consent for the publication of names related to the party in the memo, and the ministry is delaying the publication of the memo until August 14 due to the need to blur certain names [6].
Sources:
[1] Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior [2] AfD in Brandenburg sees itself in a "spiritual civil war" and longs for "revolutionary conditions" to abolish the "party state." [3] Springer described the memo as containing claims, insinuations, and quotes taken out of context. [4] The AfD has not given consent for the publication of names related to the party in the memo. [5] The AfD is taking legal action against this classification. [6] The state offices for the protection of the constitution in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have classified the AfD as securely far-right.
- The AfD's policy-and-legislation in Brandenburg, as well as their public statements, have been criticized for promoting anti-constitutional and exclusionary positions that contravene the constitutional principles of pluralism and equality, as evident in their discriminatory rhetoric and actions against minorities, immigrants, and specific groups such as Muslims.
- The classification of the AfD as a confirmed right-wing extremist group by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior, along with the subsequent classifications by state offices in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, indicates a significant political issue related to general-news, as the party's ideologies and actions challenge the democratic principles and rule of law in Germany.
