The Green Party Pushes for Tightened Scrutiny of AfD Members in public Service
Green political figures call for close examination of AfD associates - Greens in European Parliament advocate for reexamination of AfD membership statuses
It's time for a tougher stance against AfD officials in the public sector, according to Berlin's Greens. Ministers of the interior from federal and state governments need to establish ironclad procedures to systematically examine the constitutional loyalty of public servants associated with the AfD. These procedures should have disciplinary consequences, such as dismissal, refusal of civil service, or cancellation of pensions.
Green representatives Ario Mirzaie, Klara Schedlich, and Vasili Franco also advocate for thorough background checks for AfD members in particularly sensitive and security-critical areas of public service. This includes roles within the police, justice system, constitutional protection, weapons authorities, civil protection, IT security, and more. Some jobs, they argue, are incompatible with active AfD membership, such as in the police force.
"No firearms for AfD members"
The Greens believe that this rule should extend to the permission to own a firearm. Membership in an extremist organization like the AfD should be a clear disqualification and, if necessary, explicitly stated in the weapons law.
Interior ministers discuss AfD
The call to action comes amid the ongoing interior ministers' conference of the federal and state governments in Bremerhaven, running until Friday. The conference's primary focus is dealing with the AfD.
In May 2025, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) designated the AfD as a "securely right-wing extremist endeavor." Although the BfV filed an urgent application, it temporarily halted the new classification pending a decision by the responsible administrative court in Cologne. The court will determine whether the BfV's classification violates the German constitution by encroaching on the party's freedom of speech and legitimate criticism of immigration policies.
The exact number of public service employees known to be affiliated with the AfD remains undisclosed, as they are not required to reveal their political affiliations. The procedures the Greens advocate for should apply to employees known to be active within the AfD, such as MPs or election candidates for the party.
- AfD
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- Berlin
- Background checks
- Firearms
- German Press Agency
- Pension
- Klara Schedlich
Insights:
- Current Regulations and Proposals: The BfV labeled the AfD a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor," allowing authorities to monitor the party and potentially withhold public funding. Some federal states are considering restricting AfD members from serving in sensitive roles like civil servants, police officers, teachers, or soldiers.
- Legal Proceedings: AfD has sued the BfV, contesting the classification as a violation of the German constitution. A court in Cologne will review this case, with potential implications for the AfD's parliamentary rights.
- Parliamentary Rights: Due to the AfD's new classification, parties opposing it have hindered its parliamentary rights, preventing it from occupying key committee positions and other roles within the parliament.
- AfD's Election Performance: The AfD's strong showing in the 2025 federal election (20.8% of the vote) has raised concerns about potential impacts on immigration policies and the extent of future security checks and public service restrictions.
- The Green Party in Berlin has urged tougher measures to scrutinize AfD members serving in public sectors, particularly in sensitive and security-critical roles like the police, justice system, and IT security.
- In light of the ongoing oversight of the AfD by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), a court in Cologne is currently reviewing the BfV's decision to classify the AfD as a "secured right-wing extremist endeavor."
- As part of their proposed policy-and-legislation for tightened scrutiny of AfD members, the Greens advocate for a ban on AfD members owning firearms, citing their membership as a disqualifying factor.
