Intensified Elections Excluding AfD Politicians May Boost Controversy or Dispute
In the heart of Germany, a contentious issue has arisen, centring around the increasing exclusions of politicians from the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party from elections. Journalist Jan Alexander Casper delves into this topic in a recent article, exploring the key factors driving these exclusions and the significant implications they hold for German democracy and politics.
The primary catalyst behind these exclusions is a growing doubt about the loyalty of the AfD to the German constitution and concerns over their classified far-right extremist tendencies. This suspicion has led local election committees and courts to bar AfD candidates from standing in some elections, as demonstrated by the August 2025 case in Ludwigshafen where an AfD mayoral candidate was excluded due to such doubts, a decision upheld by the administrative court[1][2].
Several regional branches of the AfD have been officially branded as far-right extremist groups, notably in Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. These classifications are based on their xenophobic, racist, and anti-democratic stances and rhetoric[4]. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has also classified AfD at times as right-wing extremist, fueling political and legal challenges to their legitimacy. Although the classification was temporarily suspended pending court decisions, its initial issuance intensified exclusion efforts[2].
The political opposition and stigma towards the AfD are also significant contributors to the exclusion of their candidates. AfD remains widely ostracized by the mainstream parties who refuse to work with them and have used administrative means to block their candidates. The refusal to admit an AfD candidate to a mayoral ballot came from a multi-party election commission excluding AfD representatives themselves[1].
The implications of these exclusions are far-reaching for German democracy and politics. They spark democratic controversy and polarization, with supporters and AfD politicians denouncing these exclusions as politically motivated attempts to “eliminate” their party’s influence, arguing that any non-left-wing views are branded extremist[1]. This deepens political polarization.
Courts are increasingly asked to balance election rights with constitutional protection against extremism, reflecting tensions between political expression and safeguarding democracy. The exclusions also have electoral and coalition effects, as AfD retains substantial voter support (around 18-21% in recent polls), complicating government formations since other parties rule out coalition but may occasionally use AfD votes tactically[3][5].
Public backlash and protests have ensued, with secret plans and extremist allegations leading to massive demonstrations and calls for a constitutional ban on the AfD, showing the high stakes of the party’s controversial status[5].
In summary, the rising exclusions of AfD politicians stem from their party’s hard-right extremist classification and associated threats to the democratic constitutional order, creating ongoing legal, political, and social conflicts across Germany[1][2][4]. This issue underscores the importance of maintaining a balance between democratic principles and the protection against extremism, a challenge that Germany continues to grapple with.
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