Far-right influences increasingly permeating the ranks of RLP, as evident through growing alliance with AfD party
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The office of Rhineland-Palatinate's Department for the Protection of the Constitution has reported a growing collaboration between the AfD and extremist right-wing groups. This was confirmed by Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) during his presentation of the constitutional protection report of 2025.
As per the report, the AfD in Rhineland-Palatinate is attempting to align itself with the "New Right" faction. This is evident in instances like the influence of the "Burschenschaft Germania Halle zu Mainz," a group previously linked to the former "Zentrum Rheinhessen" in Mainz, according to Ebling.
The event center was closed due to public pressure. The AfD has since been attempting to set up new hubs, managing to open a new "Zentrum Rheinhessen" in an industrial estate in Ingelheim. However, the usage at this location is not as extensive as that at the previous one in Mainz.
The Department for the Protection of the Constitution is also keeping an eye on collaborative efforts between the AfD and the New Right in Koblenz, centered around the so-called Quartier Kirschstein. For instance, significant players in the right-wing scene were spotted at an event there in August the previous year.
According to the Department's findings, the number of right-wing extremists in Rhineland-Palatinate has grown again - reaching nearly 800 individuals (located around 770 in 2024), with 160 being deemed potentially violent. Strongholds for these extremists seem to be found in parts of the Palatinate and the Westerwald. Despite this, Rhineland-Palatinate is not considered a right-wing extremist "hotspot" as stated by Ebling. The Interior Minister declared that right-wing extremism currently poses the biggest threat to democracy in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The number of politically-motivated crimes in Rhineland-Palatinate has reached an all-time high since the beginning of statistics in 2001, stated the head of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Elmar May. A grand total of 2,532 crimes were recorded last year, representing over 500 more than the previous year. Of these, 1,471 offenses were attributed to right-wing extremist perpetrator circles.
Notably, both right-wing extremists and Islamists have been observed to infiltrate and radicalize young individuals through social networks, messaging services, and video platforms. According to the Department for the Protection of the Constitution, the digital realm is now an equally important realm alongside the "real world" in terms of extremist activities and foreign state actors' influence.
It's essential to be aware of the increasing collaboration between extreme political groups like the AfD and right-wing extremists. This trend highlights the necessity of vigilance, ongoing monitoring, and prompt action against such collaborative efforts to preserve the very fabric of our democracy.
- The increasing collaboration between far-right groups, such as the AfD, and extremist right-wing organizations in Rhineland-Palatinate calls for general news reporting to spread awareness.
- The growing threat of right-wing extremism in Rhineland-Palatinate is not only a concern for local policy and legislation, but also for the broader politics of the region.
- The rise in politically-motivated crimes, particularly those linked to right-wing extremism and Islamist groups, emphasizes the importance of crime and justice coverage to keep the public informed about these dangerous trends.
