Unveiling the Far-Right: AfD Under Scrutiny by BfV
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Intelligence agency views AfD as robustly right-wing across the board - The guarantees enshrined in the constitution for Germany's entire Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In a groundbreaking move, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has labeled the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as securely far-right. The decision comes in response to the party's extremist orientation, systematically disregarding human dignity.
The BfV's report states that the AfD pursues objectives that challenge the free democratic basic order. The ethnic-based concept of the people prevailing in the party clashes with the liberal democratic basic order in Germany, aiming to exclude certain population groups from equal social participation [1].
In particular, the AfD considers German citizens with a migration background from Muslim-majority countries as not equally belonging to the German people, as defined by the party itself. Rhetoric from the party and its leading figures have violated the principle of human dignity, representing a significant factor in this current assessment [2].
The AfD gained significant traction in the 2023 federal election, emerging as the second-largest faction in parliament with 20.8% of the votes [2]. Although it is the largest opposition faction, its classification as securely far-right could initiate discussions regarding a potential party ban.
Previous Classifications
Previous state offices for the protection of the constitution in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt had classified the respective AfD state associations as securely far-right [2]. This federal-level classification confirms and consolidates anti-constitutional efforts within the federal party.
Legal Implications
Even for a far-right suspicion case, the use of intelligence means is permitted, such as employing informants, conducting observations, or making recordings. However, the principle of proportionality must be upheld when selecting and employing these means [3].
For a securely extremist classification, the threshold for using such means is relatively lower. While observation by the BfV does not automatically lead to a party ban, one of the three constitutional organs might consider submitting an application for a party ban procedure following the new assessment [3].
Current Legal Dispute
The basis for this decision is an extensive report by the BfV, intended for internal use only. Publication of the internal working paper, which also incorporates findings from the previous federal election campaign, is not planned [4].
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser asserts that there has been no political influence on the new report, emphasizing the BfV's independence in combating extremism and protecting democracy [4]. Although Faeser maintains a cautious approach towards the possibility of a party ban procedure, she acknowledges that there are legal instruments to safeguard democracy against far-right threats, including observation and assessment by the BfV [4].
Green Party's Response
The Greens have welcomed the elevation of the AfD, which they believe is at odds with the German constitution and the liberal democratic order in its entirety. They advocate for consequences when dealing with the AfD in parliament and view today's decision as a clear signal to those fostering normalization of the party [5].
As negotiations between coalition partners Union and SPD continue, it remains uncertain how they will handle electing AfD representatives to chair committees in the Bundestag [5]. Although designated Union faction leader Jens Spahn backs treating the AfD as any other opposition party, SPD interior expert Sebastian Hartmann has ruled out votes from the SPD for AfD, which could claim the chairmanship of the important budget committee [5].
Future Outlook
Despite the AfD's continued gains in polls after the federal election, the gap between the Union and the AfD has widened again in recent surveys. The Union gained 27% in the ZDF Politbarometer, while the AfD dropped to 23% [6].
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Sources:[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-in-bundestag-was-fuer-saechsische-wahlerwartet-a-1243018.html[2] https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/afd-bundesweit-rechts-ausgerottet-101.html[3] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AfD#Aktuelle_Entwicklung[4] https://www.dw.com/de/bundesinnenministerin-faeser-garantiere-unabhangigkeit-bei-afd-einschatzung/a-61359644[5] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus/s-61275121/Greens-willens-vor-AfD-Komiteesparten-auf-Parteiebene.html%3Famp[6] https://www.rheinische-post.de/politik/muckenkopf-wahlkampf-afd-zu-neun-prozent-nach-rheinbarometer-27958031
- The Commission has 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 far-right party, AfD, presents a significant threat to human dignity and democratic values.
- The AfD, classified as securely far-right, violates the ethnically neutral liberal democratic basic order of the German constitution, excluding certain population groups from equal social participation.
- The policy-and-legislation sector may need to address the potential implications of the AfD's extremist orientation, as the new classification could initiate discussions regarding a party ban.
- In the realm of general news, the BfV's internal report on AfD's far-right nature might trigger legal debate, with constitutional organs potentially considering a party ban procedure following the new assessment.
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