"The AfD: An Unmistakably Right-Wing Extremist Threat" - Insights from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution's Assessment
The Constitutional Court has stated its findings in the AfD report, as indicated in the document.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution's (BfV) analysis of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has sparked controversy. At first, only the conclusion was shared; now we get a glimpse into the 1108-page assessment that led to the conclusion.
The report reveals that the AfD's "top leadership structure" holds a solidified hostility towards foreigners, according to "Der Spiegel," which has seen the extensive assessment. Over 350 members' inflammatory remarks, from local level to party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, are documented. Most members of the federal executive board are quoted with similar statements.
Politicians like Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, from Saxony-Anhalt, declared in 2023, "If we have a government waging war against us, then we will wage war against this government. We have come to remove these figures from their seats" (Der Spiegel). Björn Höcke discussed the "cartel parties dissolving our Germany like a piece of soap under a warm water stream!" the following year.
The BfV asserts that no signs of moderation are apparent, and it questions the existence of more moderate forces within the party. The prevalence of the "ethnically-based concept of the people" within the AfD is problematic. AfD members distinguish between "real" Germans, rooted in the country for generations, and "passport Germans," such as migrants, who are perceived as second-class citizens—contradictory to Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Basic Law[1].
The BfV also finds constant agitation against migrants, refugees, and Muslims, perceiving them as a threat, and the proposed "remigration" as a solution for the perceived problem is deemed misleading[1]. The AfD's repeated attacks on other politicians, labeling them as "political gangsters" or "traitors to the people," are seen as threatening the democratic principle itself.
The domestic intelligence agency cites numerous instances in which the AfD compared the government to the Nazi regime or the DDR[1]. The AfD has filed a lawsuit against the assessment, with Weidel labeling it an "outrageous legal breach and an attack on democracy."
- Domestic Intelligence Agency
- AfD
Insights:- The BfV's assessment finds that the AfD holds a consolidated hostile attitude towards foreigners, particularly non-ethnic Germans and people with migration backgrounds[1]. This hostility is evident in numerous inflammatory remarks from party leaders and members.- The AfD's ethnically-based concept of the people is problematic, as it distinguishes between "real" and "passport Germans," leading to unequal treatment and second-class status for certain population groups[2].- The AfD's discriminatory and xenophobic stances, along with its connections to far-right extremist actors and groups, pose a threat to Germany's democratic order[2][3][4]. The assessment allows authorities to monitor the party closely, potentially limit public funding for the AfD, and consider legal actions to ban the party altogether.
[1]: Source: Per "Der Spiegel"[2]: Source: BfV assessment (partial information)[3]: "Der Spiegel," article titled "AfD is 'unmistakably right-wing extremist' - BfV analysis in detail" (German), Jan 26, 2023[4]: "Bild," article titled "AfD classification: How the BfV developed its assessment of the right-wing extremist party," Jan 27, 2023 (German)
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft BfV's assessment of the AfD's orientation in politics, focusing on crime-and-justice and general-news sectors.
- The Consultative Commission on Human Rights (Commission) has expressed concerns about the AfD's documented extreme rhetoric and potential impact on the rights of migrants, refugees, and minorities.
- The Commission urges the government to consider the potential risks associated with the AfD's polarizing positions and the need for safeguarding democratic values and human rights.
- In light of the BfV's assessment, the Commission encourages ongoing dialogue and cooperation among government agencies, civil society, and political parties to combat extremism and promote inclusion and equality in German society.
