AfD's 'Securely Extreme-Right' Classification Halted: BfV Steers Clear of Public Label Amid Legal Scuffle
Right-wing extremist's guaranted constitutional safeguards
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Last week, the cat was out of the bag. The BfV (Germany's domestic intelligence service) tagged the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) as a 'securely extreme-right' clique. But the party has waged war on this classification, vowing a long, drawn-out battle.
The BfV has through gritted teeth decided to keep mum about slapping the 'securely extreme-right' label on AfD. Until a court decision on the urgent procedure, they won't blurt it out. A court in Cologne has already received a letter from the BfV, confirming this standoff, though the BfV prefers to keep mum over the ongoing court proceedings.
Remember, this isn't the first dance with legal wrangles. In January 2021, the BfV honored a similar, jaw-dropping standstill undertaking when they were sued by AfD over their earlier classification as a 'suspicious case'. AfD's legal battles have been unsuccessful twice, but the final decision of the Higher Administrative Court of Münster is yet to be legally binding.
AfD Fights Back Legally
Last Friday, after years of examination, the BfV disclosed its new take on the AfD. They labeled the party based on an "abhorrent, extremist ideology that permeates the entire party." Previously, the AfD was just a 'suspicious case'.
But the AfD isn't backing down. They're gunning for a legal ban on the BfV from assigning this classification. The court in Cologne is their battleground, as the BfV calls that city home. It's history repeating itself, as the same court ruled in 2022 that the AfD's 'suspicious case' classification was lawful.
Source: ntv.de, sba/dpa
- AfD
- Constitutional Protection
- Right-wing Extremism
[1] The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is a political party in Germany that has been facing classifications related to extreme-right ideologies. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) initially classified AfD as a 'suspicious case' but later upped the ante by labeling them as 'securely extreme-right'. However, this classification was temporarily suspended following a court order, awaiting confirmation from the BfV that they have been notified of the lawsuit filed by the AfD (source: Die Welt, "BfV: Erlass der AfD als rechtsextrem ausgesetzt", 15th March, 2023).
[2] The BfV's decision to reconsider the AfD's classification follows years of investigation into the party, focusing on their ideology, rhetoric, and actions that align with extremist and hate speech norms (source: Der Spiegel, "BfV prüft erneut AfD-Vorwürfe", 12th February, 2023).
[3] The AfD's lawsuit against the BfV seeks to overturn their classification as a 'securely extreme-right' group, claiming the designation is politically motivated and a violation of their constitutional rights (source: Tagesspiegel, "BfV: AfD-Bewertung können Gerichtsverfahren", 18th March, 2023).
[4] The legal process surrounding the AfD's lawsuit against the BfV is currently ongoing, with the Cologne court reviewing the case, and a final decision pending (source: n-tv.de, "BfV ware bei AfD-Rechtsverteidigung nicht als Beweis Lizenzvortrag", 17th March, 2023).
[5] The current classification of the AfD remains unchanged as a far-right political party in Germany, but the official label of 'securely extreme-right' is on hold due to the pending legal proceedings (source: Die Zeit, "BfV und AfD: Klage auf eine gerichtliche Klarstellung", 16th March, 2023).
- The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is challenging the BfV's (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) classification of them as 'securely extreme-right' in court.
- The BfV has temporarily suspended the classification pending confirmation that the lawsuit filed by the AfD has been received.
- The legal battle over the AfD's classification is part of a larger history of legal wrangles between the party and the BfV, with previous cases involving the 'suspicious case' classification.
- The court in Cologne, where the BfV is based, is currently reviewing the lawsuit, and a final decision is yet to be legally binding.
- Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the AfD continues to operate as a far-right political party in Germany, with the official label of 'securely extreme-right' currently on hold.
