Rhineland-Palatinate Upholds Avoidance of General Prohibition for AfD Politicians - Proposal amendments encompass the inclusion of the following points:
In a recent development, the Ministry of the Interior in Rhineland-Palatinate has clarified its stance on the accessibility of the public service for members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The initial announcement, made by Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) in July 2025, suggested a tightening of recruitment practices to deny AfD members future access to the public service[1]. However, the ministry has since reiterated its communication, stating that while doubts about an applicant's constitutional loyalty can lead to their exclusion from the hiring process, the individual case remains decisive in all instances[2].
The AfD has been classified as an extremist group by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, a designation central to this policy. Given this classification, AfD membership is considered incompatible with the duties required in the public service in Rhineland-Palatinate. This policy applies systematically to new applicants, and current public servants who hold AfD membership may face disciplinary action, including dismissal[1][2].
Despite the initial interpretation of the announcement as a blanket ban on access for AfD members, the ministry has clarified that the path to the public service is not completely closed for them. Instead, doubts about the constitutional loyalty of AfD applicants will be addressed on a case-by-case basis[2]. Refusal to declare constitutional loyalty is a disqualification for hiring into the public service.
The ministry's revised stance does not alter the possibility of AfD members applying for positions in the public service. However, the initial statement met with sharp criticism from experts and the opposition, leading to the need for clarification[1]. The ministry in Mainz has emphasised that the individual case remains decisive in all hiring and disciplinary decisions[2].
This policy represents a firm stance that views AfD membership as fundamentally incompatible with constitutional loyalty required in the public service sector of the state. The tightening of recruitment practices was announced for the purpose of maintaining the integrity and impartiality of the public service in Rhineland-Palatinate[1].
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-mitarbeiter-in-rheinland-pfalz-inneres-ministerium-stuertzt-einschlaeusern-a-20c8889f-6b6f-4b8b-b693-b7e8d6e5c1b7 [2] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/rheinland-pfalz-afd-mitarbeiter-in-den-behoerden-keine-blanko-verbot-1.5878593
- In light of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist group, the policy-and-legislation in Rhineland-Palatinate deems AfD membership incompatible with the duties required in the public service sector.
- Despite the initial interpretation of the ministry's statement as a complete ban on AfD members accessing the public service, the ministry has clarified that while doubts about an applicant's constitutional loyalty can lead to their exclusion, the individual case remains decisive in all instances, and the path is not completely closed for AfD members.
