Germany's Interior Minister Warns of Daily Threats to Democracy as Far-Right Extremism Soars
Far-right political party, AfD, dominates substantial portion of Germany's political spectrum
By Hubertus Volmer
Gear up for a rollercoaster ride through the volatile world of German politics!
The interior minister, Dobrindt, has issued a stern warning about daily attacks on the country's constitutional order, pointing fingers at Russian disposable agents, rapidly radicalizing young people, and a sharp increase in politically motivated crime.
For the very first time, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) counts more than 50,000 right-wing extremists in Germany. In response, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called this staggering figure an alarming revelation during a presentation of the BfV's current report.
Fun fact: This right-wing extremist potential has over doubled in the last ten years, reaching shocking numbers. Today, the figure stands at 50,250, with a dramatic 15,300 considered violence-prone. You might be surprised to find the number of left-wing extremists also increased during this period, with the BfV now counting a hefty 38,000 extremists, 11,200 of whom are classified as violence-prone.
The AFD: Hazard Zone for Far-Right Extremism
Stepping into the spotlight is the right-wing extremist hotspot: the Alternative for Germany (AFD) party. According to the BfV, a whopping 20,000 of the 50,000-plus far-right extremists can be found within the ranks of the AFD, increasing from 11,300 in 2023. Compared to the party's reported 52,000 members, that's a staggering 40%! Fascinatingly, this makes the AFD the political party with the most far-right extremists by a mile!
Keen-eyed readers will remember that the BfV classifies around 25,000 right-wing extremists as having party affiliations, including 2,500 in the extremist relabeled NPD (Die Heimat).
The AFD is considered the "hinge function" in right-wing extremism by the BfV's vice-president, Sinan Selen. According to Selen, the party picks up topics and brings them into the realm of the acceptable, eventually radicalizing its followers.
Dogged Doubts: Dobrindt Refuses to Kick Out the AFDe
Setting aside his personal views labeling the AFDe right-wing extremist, Dobrindt still maintains his skepticism regarding a ban procedure. Instead of taking decisive action, he prefers to navigate the challenge politically, aiming to eliminate the party from the center stage.
The BfV's designation of the AFDe as right-wing extremist was reversed after a legal challenge by the party. As a result, the authority issued a "standstill declaration," officially labeling the party only as a suspected case until a court decision. This does not change the authority's substantive assessment, with Dobrindt stating that the designation as right-wing extremist is merely "temporarily suspended."
You may be curious, why all the fuss?
An expert opinion by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, while unofficially published, has pegged the AFDe as right-wing extremist. This whopper of a 1,100-page report suggests that the party’s xenophobic, Islamophobic, and anti-minority discourse, along with statements from AFDe leaders attacking the democratic order, was the driving force behind the designation[1][3].
But Dobrindt considers this report insufficient to pave the way for a ban procedure. Selen, the BfV's vice-president, concurs with this stance.
Politics can be murky waters, can't it?
Did You Know?The current status is that Germany’s main domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as "right-wing extremist" in May 2025[1][3][4]. The classification was based on a comprehensive report citing the party’s xenophobic, Islamophobic, and anti-minority rhetoric, as well as statements from party leaders considered attacks on the constitutional democratic order[1][3].
The designation opened the door for increased surveillance and monitoring by security agencies and is a preliminary step under German constitutional law toward potentially banning the party if it is found to "deliberately undermine" democracy and act in a militant way[4]. The AFDe leadership has rejected the classification and filed a legal challenge, with a court ruling expected soon.
The stark warning of daily threats to democracy by the interior minister, Dobrindt, encompasses a broad spectrum of challenges, including Russian disposable agents, radicalized young people, and politically motivated crime. The politics surrounding the rise of far-right extremism in EC countries is a key news topic under the general-news category, with the Alternative for Germany (AFD) party serving as a considerable hotspot for this radicalization. Despite the BfV designating the AFDe as right-wing extremist, the party's legal challenge has led to a standstill declaration, leaving its official classification temporarily suspended.
