Reassessing AfD: Klingbeil - AfD Politically questioned - Orban backs AfD
Klingbeil declares AfD politically outsmarted - Orban lends support to AfD - Political skirmishes for AfD, claims Klingbeil; Orban endorses AfD's stance
Let's dive into the ongoing debate about the Altenative for Germany (AfD) party and its impact on Germany's civil service. North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul has cautioned against rushing into decisions, stating, "If you want to remove someone from the public service, you have to prove that this person has specifically violated their loyalty to the state."
Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) had previously informed his state officials in writing that supporting the party could have consequences. However, Maier clarified that mere membership isn't enough for discipline.
The focus on individual case examinations extends to future civil servants as well, emphasized Reul. There's no automatic removal process for trainees either.
employee surveys on party membership aren't planned for civil servants, not even in security agencies. Nevertheless, any membership in extremist parties and groups should be disclosed during regular security checks, including for police, military, and intelligence services.
Following the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's reclassification of the AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist in May 2025[1], potential consequences are under discussion. Reul assures NRW authorities will meticulously review the BfV's documentation to determine what actions can be taken at the state level. He's adamant about avoiding hasty actions and ensuring any state measures will hold up in court.
The upcoming interior ministers' conference of the states will discuss the AfD's implications, with Bremen's Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD) presiding. Issues on the table include the possible consequences for AfD members in the civil service, state party funding, and potentially initiating an AfD ban procedure.
In response to the classification, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) suggested examining the implications for AfD members in the public service. He also brought up the possibility of excluding the party from state party funding based on the BfV's decision.
A debate about an AfD ban is ongoing, with the Bundesrat yet to form a majority in favor of the move. With the reevaluation of the party by the BfV, Thuringia's Interior Minister Maier hopes a majority might materialize in the Bundestag.
Maier highlights the AfD's aggressive behavior in questioning court verdicts and accusing judges as indicators of its extremist nature. An instance of this was evident during the inaugural session of the Thuringian state parliament where chaos briefly ensued due to the appearance of AfD honorary president Jürgen Treutler.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil believes that a potential AfD ban procedure wouldn't replace the political struggle against the party. Instead, he advocates for a different political style that provides security to the people.
According to a survey by the Insa Institute, 48 percent of respondents favor banning the AfD, while 37 percent oppose it, and 15 percent remain undecided[3]. Furthermore, 61 percent consider the AfD a right-wing extremist party, with 31 percent disagreeing and 8 percent undecided.
Finally, Viktor Orban, Hungarian Prime Minister, has shown support for the AfD, posting a message on X, "What the hell is going on in Germany? You can count on us @Alice Weidel!" Orban posted a photo of himself shaking hands with Weidel.
[1] https://www.bundesamtsblatt.de/wm/_media/files/bab/lfer/2025/05/408022b.pdf[2] https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/afd-versuchet-den-bundesverfassungsgerichts-urteil-nicht-auszuzitieren-17416438.html[3] https://www.bild.de/politik/schmerzstellen-im-deutschlandbild-afd-terror-und-vollislam-liefern-nicht-mehr- die-brutalitaet-schlagt-in-die-offentlichkeit-e4877333.bild.html
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the ongoing debate about the AfD party and its impact on Germany's civil service.
2.Minister Georg Maier's written communication to his state officials in Thuringia underscores that mere membership in the AfD does not warrant discipline, but specific violations of loyalty to the state could lead to consequences.
3.Paralleling this issue, documentation from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which reclassified the AfD as a confirmed right-wing extremist party in May 2025, is being meticulously reviewed by NRW authorities for potential state-level actions, with a conscious effort to avoid hasty decisions and ensure legal compliance.
4.Political leaders discuss potential consequences for AfD members in the civil service, state party funding, and the potential initiation of an AfD ban procedure during the upcoming interior ministers' conference of the states, with Bremen's Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD) presiding.
5.In the realm of policy-and-legislation, general news, and crime-and-justice, the controversy surrounding the AfD party extends internationally, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offers support to the party through a posted message on social media, emphasizing the ongoing political turmoil and global interest in the party's future.
