Party, led by AfD, aims to dismantle the government, as per Minister's categorization - Party Leadership of AfD Desires State's Demolition, According to Minister
German Constitutional Protection Agency Classifies AfD State Branches as Extremist
In a significant development, the German Constitutional Protection agency (Verfassungsschutz) has officially designated the state branches of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony as "proven right-wing extremist organizations."
The classification of the Brandenburg branch, which occurred in August 2025, was based on a comprehensive intelligence report that highlighted the group's xenophobia, racism, anti-Muslim stance, and advocacy of an exclusionary ethnocultural German identity. The report also documented anti-democratic aims and attempts to undermine the constitutional order.
This designation in Brandenburg follows similar classifications for the AfD branches in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, all regarded as extremist by their respective state intelligence services. These classifications allow for intensified surveillance methods such as undercover informants and communication monitoring under judicial oversight, and form the legal basis for possible future party bans.
The AfD leadership has denied the extremist label, accusing the government of political persecution, and is legally challenging these decisions. Brandenburg's Interior Minister, René Wilke, has defended the classification, comparing the fanatical supporters of the AfD to a kind of fan culture, for example, in radicalized football clubs.
The report by the Constitutional Protection agency in Brandenburg also refers to "remigration" theses, a term often used by right-wing extremists to imply that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country, including those with German passports. The leading figures of the AfD have been found to be supporters of these theses, as documented in the report.
The debate about how to deal with AfD members in the civil service is ongoing, particularly in Potsdam. However, it is important to note that the classification of the AfD as right-wing extremist does not mean that all members and voters of the party are right-wing extremists; it applies to the cadres and the supporters.
In May 2025, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) classified the entire AfD party as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor," enabling heightened monitoring and potential funding restrictions. The current classifications by the German Constitutional Protection agency officially designate the AfD party's state branches in Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony as "proven right-wing extremist organizations."
References:
[1] Deutsche Welle (2025). AfD classed as extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence agency. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/afd-classed-as-extremist-by-germany-s-domestic-intelligence-agency/a-57227998
[2] The Local (2025). Brandenburg AfD classified as right-wing extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence agency. [online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.de/20250825/brandenburg-afd-classified-as-right-wing-extremist-by-germany-s-domestic-intelligence-agency
[3] Tagesspiegel (2025). AfD Brandenburg: Verfassungsschutz meldet rechtsextremistische Bestrebungen. [online] Available at: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/afd-brandenburg-verfassungsschutz-meldet-rechtsextremistische-bestrebungen/27639596.html
[4] Zeit Online (2025). Verfassungsschutz meldet die AfD in Brandenburg als rechtsextremistisch. [online] Available at: https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-08/verfassungsschutz-afd-brandenburg-rechtsextremistisch
[5] Spiegel Online (2025). AfD in Brandenburg: Verfassungsschutz meldet rechtsextremistische Bestrebungen. [online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/verfassungsschutz-meldet-die-afd-in-brandenburg-als-rechtsextremistisch-a-130740793.html
- The classification of the AfD branches in various EC countries as extremist raises concerns about the party's employment policy and its implications for the political landscape, sparking a substantial debate in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
- Despite the AfD's assertion that the extremist label is a product of political politics, the ongoing surveillance methods and potential party bans underscore the seriousness of these classifications, impacting not only the party's internal operations but also its position within the broader political and social context.
