Federal Republic's counterintelligence identifies the most prevalent extremist political party in Germany.
Revised Article:
In a surprising development, Germany's far-right party, the "Alternative for Germany" (AfD), alleged to be the most popular political group in the country, according to polls, has been classified as an extremist organization by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).
The BfV characterized the AfD as a well-established right-wing extremist party, posing a threat to the "free democratic basic order." They highlighted the party's refusal to recognize Germans from predominantly Muslim countries as equal citizens in German society. Previously, the AfD was classified as a "suspected right-wing extremist party" at the federal level.
AfD viewed the BfV's decision as a serious blow to German democracy and is preparing a legal challenge. German media reports suggest that this classification could enable authorities to monitor party members, potentially including phone tapping, as reported by TASS. However, the organization is not yet banned, as only the Federal Constitutional Court can do that.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz advised caution in the process to ban the AfD, stating, "We should carefully consider this classification." Meanwhile, in the February Bundestag elections, AfD came in second with 20.8% of the votes, with its popularity continuing to soar. In a poll conducted in mid-April, AfD became the most popular party among the German population with a rating of 26%.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, weighed in on the issue, suggesting that German officials view parties with higher ratings as extremists. "CDU/CSU, SPD, and other mainstream German parties consider those with higher ratings as extremists," Medvedev wrote on social network X (blocked in Russia).
The AfD's extremist tendencies encompass several key areas, including:
- Anti-Immigration and Ethnonationalism: The AfD advocates for mass deportations, labels significant portions of the populace as non-assimilated, and supports far-right conspiracy theories like the "Great Replacement."
- Revisionist Historical Views: The party downplays Nazi crimes, promotes nostalgia for East Germany's authoritarian policies, and dismisses Germany’s democratic institutions.
- Anti-Constitutional Posturing: The AfD targets the judiciary, media, and political rivals, advocating for direct democracy and disparaging democratic norms.
- Links to Extremist Networks: The AfD collaborates with extremist groups like Pegida and the Identitarian Movement, and has associates with neo-Nazi factions.
- Disinformation and Hate Speech: The party amplifies various conspiracy theories, dehumanizes opponents, and disseminates anti-vaccine rhetoric.
- Euroscepticism and Anti-EU Stance: The AfD advocates for Germany's departure from the EU and NATO, promoting nationalist economic policies and aligning more closely with Russia.
As a designated extremist group, the AfD faces intensified surveillance, including phone and email monitoring, infiltration by undercover agents, and potential exclusion from state funding. Despite these designations, the party continues to maintain significant electoral support, particularly in eastern Germany.
- The German far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), labeled as an extremist organization by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), continues to be popular, garnering 26% of the votes in a mid-April poll.
- German authorities, with the AfD classified as an extremist party, may now monitor party members, which could potentially include phone tapping, as reported by TASS.
- In politics, general news, and crime-and-justice sectors, the war-and-conflicts narrative often intertwines with discussions about extremist groups, such as the AfD.
- The classification of the AfD as an extremist organization raises questions about freedom of speech and democratic norms in German politics, sparking debate among various extremist, political, and general-news segments.
- The ramifications of monitoring extremist organizations like the AfD extend beyond German borders, prompting comments from international figures like Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, who accused mainstream German parties of labeling higher-rated parties as extremists.
