Intelligence services in Germany have revoked the designation of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "right-wing extremist" group.
A Quick Halt: German Inside Scoop on AfD's 'Right-wing Extremist' Tag
In a surprising U-turn, the German domestic intelligence agency, BfV, has put the brakes on its infamous labeling of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "right-wing extremist" group. This temporary halt came into effect on May 8, right before the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, took over, causing quite a stir.
The BfV's suspension of the AfD's new classification will last until the Administrative Court of Cologne rules on a referral filed by the party itself, contesting the BfV's decision, the court stated in a press release. This means that the BfV will withdraw its previous press release regarding the AfD's classification and the enhanced surveillance measures that accompany such assessments cannot be enacted at this time.
The AfD, which came second in the legislative elections, was going to face enhanced police surveillance due to this label, but that is now on hold. The initial label was based on a detailed, 1,000+ page internal report prepared by the BfV over several years. Apparently, the report concludes that the AfD's ideology is offensive to various groups in Germany and poses a threat to human dignity, incompatible with the fundamental democratic order.
AfD's co-chairs, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, are thrilled with this respite, calling it a partial victory against the intelligence services.
While the legal battle wages on, the classification as a "right-wing extremist" organization has already caused practical repercussions for AfD members, such as exclusion from official delegations and increased scrutiny of their civil service roles.
Interested in more? Check out our opinion piece by historian Hélène Miard-Delacroix: "The Nazi history of Germany makes the breakthrough of the AfD a rift". Subscribe now!
What's Next:The current classification of the AfD as a "right-wing extremist" organization by the BfV is up in the air due to a pending legal case. The AfD has welcomed this temporary pause and is marching forward to challenge the accusation. Despite the reprieve, the label has already caused practical consequences for the party members. Stay tuned for updates!
References:[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/german-spy-agency-temporarily-suspends-ban-on-afd-as-right-wing-extremist[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58815488
The BfV's decision to momentarily withhold the labeling of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a "right-wing extremist" group is pending a court ruling. This decision causes the AfD to momentarily evade enhanced police surveillance. The AfD, in response, has labeled this reprieve as a "partial victory" against the intelligence services. The legal battle's outcome will determine the AfD's official classification in German politics and policy-and-legislation, with potential implications on Nazi history and current general news.
