Brandenburg State AfD: Confirmed Far-Right Classification Unveiled
Right-wing extremist party AfD in Brandenburg deemed securely categorized - Far-Right Party in Brandenburg Formalized as Secure Category
Timeline: 1 Min Read
The Brandenburg Office of Constitutional Protection has blacklisted the state AfD, labelling them as confirmed far-right. State Interior Minister Katrin Lange of the SPD announced this at a gathering in Potsdam. Alongside Brandenburg, the state parties in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have been tagged as far-right extremists, whilst the federal party incurred the same label in 2025.
Apparently, the classification of the Brandenburg AfD, which dates back to April 14, only surfaced on May 5. Minister Lange emphasized this documentation was supposed to immediately reach her hands. In response, she gave Jörg Müller, the head of the Office of Constitutional Protection, his walking papers on May 3, as mutual trust no longer seemed viable. In addition, she criticized the decision makers for not informing both her and the public regarding such an important matter. Nevertheless, she declared the label remains unchanged.
Far-Right in Every Corner
Earlier, the state brand of AfD in Brandenburg found itself facing suspicion but now has been marked as a full-blown far-right extremist party. Meanwhile, the respective branches in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have already been categorized as far-right extremists.
On May 6, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution ratified the far-right label for the federal party. The announcement stirred Lange's dissent, with her expressing concerns about the timing. The decision was made just a few days before the inauguration of the new federal government, which some viewed as unfortunate.
Insights
- The Reasoning Behind The Classification: The far-right label originates from the party’s ideology, which is argued to have far-right nationalist and extremist roots antithetical to Germany’s democratic order. Specifically, the party is accused of viewing the populace primarily through an ethnic and ancestral lens, with discriminatory policies against immigrants, particularly from Muslim countries, ever present [1][2].
- Implications Of Classification: The label warrants increased monitoring, granting authorities permission to pursue activities and communication of the party and its members[5].
- Enabling a Crackdown: With more state and federal branches acquiring the "proven extremist" label, authorities can enforce tighter restrictions against the party. However, a ban, if decided by Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, remains a future possibility [2][4].
Opposing Sides In A Tense Battle
The AfD has retaliated against the classification, branding it an unjustified assault on German democracy and declaring intention to challenge the decision [2]. Amidst growing popularity, with polls placing the AfD at over 20% nationally, concerns persist regarding the party’s potential influence and possible future ban [2][3].
- The Brandenburg State AfD, labeled as a confirmed far-right party, has faced skeptical scrutiny and criticism from State Interior Minister Katrin Lange of the SPD, who was supposed to receive the documentation immediately but only saw it on May 5.
- In addition to Brandenburg, the state parties in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have also been classified as far-right extremists, and on May 6, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution announced the same far-right label for the federal party.
- The AfD has reacted against this classification, with its leaders asserting it as an unfair attack on German democracy and expressing their intention to contest the decision.
- The policy implications of this classification could include increased monitoring of the party, a tighter restriction on their activities, and potentially a ban if decided by Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, given the growing popularity of the party and their influence in policy-and-legislation and general news.
