Which AfD branches are actually (not) being monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution?

Uncovering the AfD's Rebellious Branches in NRW: Which Youth Organizations are Under the microscope?

In the latest round of monitoring right-wing extremism in Germany, the Alt-Right Youth Organization of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has found itself under suspicion. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) declared that there's strong evidence suggesting the Junge Alternative (JA) disregards democratic norms, opting instead for their own illiberal rulebook. This classification gives the domestic secret services in NRW the green light to employ intelligence methods to monitor the party organization, such as recruiting informants or conducting surveillance. However, these tools can only be used for extraparliamentary activities. Due to parliamentary immunity, members of the Bundestag or state parliaments remain unaffected.

This is certainly not the first time the domestic intelligence agency has questioned the legitimacy of an AfD branch in Germany. Thomas Haldenwang, the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has repeatedly warned about the escalating threat posed by right-wing extremism in the Federal Republic of Germany. As of present, numerous AfD sub-organizations throughout Germany are under close watch due to their extremist leanings - a remarkable position in the German party landscape.

Three AfD state associations are deemed confirmed right-wing extremist entities, led by the radical Thuringian association headed by party leader Björn Höcke. Five additional state associations have been labeled as suspected cases, with NRW joining the list as the sixth identified suspected right-wing extremist organization.

The legal implications of this classification have been a subject of controversy, with the AfD party vowing to litigate against their incrimination. Still, the BfV maintains that the JA is a definitive threat to the constitution, with no room for debate.

Breaking Down the Suspected Branches:

1. According to recent reports, the NRW Junge Alternative (NRW-JA) has become the sixth sub-organization to be probed for suspected extremism. The JA serves as the youth wing of the AfD, catering to individuals between 14 and 36 years old.
2. The NRW-JA is one of the most prominent associations within the AfD party, with around 2,100 members. This classification is the latest in a series of such scrutinizations, which have become increasingly common in several federal states.

The BfV has also taken a close eye on three other JA state associations, classifying them as confirmed right-wing extremist entities.

The Wider Picture:

Until its dissolution, the far-right wing Der Flügel faction within the AfD was also placed under watch by the intelligence services as a suspected extremist group. Despite an estimated 7,000 supporters, it remains unclear whether Der Flügel has genuinely disbanded. The BfV has yet to publish investigations showing a halt in activity by Der Flügel.

At present, the BfV assumes that nearly a third of AfD members, or approximately 10,000 members, exhibit extremist ideologies.

The AfD has consistently criticized the intelligence services' actions as politically motivated and contends that their fundamental rights as an opposition party are being violated. A slew of court cases against these classifications remains pending, with authorities obligated to base their assessments on objective criteria.

Key Takeaways:

• The Junge Alternative (JA) in NRW has been classified as a suspected right-wing extremist organization, giving the domestic secret services authorization to employ surveillance tools.
• Three JA state associations have also been designated as confirmed right-wing extremist entities, while the Thuringian branch, headed by party leader Björn Höcke, is recognized as a definitive extremist group.
• This classification is the result of consistent monitoring by the BfV, due to the rising threat of right-wing extremism, as well as concerns about the legitimacy of several AfD sub-organizations across Germany.

Enrichment Data:

• Apart from the Junge Alternative (JA) in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Thuringian state association of the AfD, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has also placed three other state branches under close observation due to their extremist activities. These branches are not explicitly named in the sources provided, but they are implied to be part of the broader classification of the AfD as a "suspected extremist" organization. [1][3]

[1] [2] [3]