Germany's AfD Party Classified as Extremist Organisation

Germany's Foreign Office has defended its decision to classify the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, after criticism from US politicians JD Vance and Marco Rubio. The classification, made by the German intelligence agency BfV, found that AfD's views on ethnicity and descent go against Germany's democratic order. AfD leaders called the decision "politically motivated" and a "severe blow to German democracy", while Rubio described it as "tyranny in disguise". The classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the AfD, and has reignited calls to ban the party ahead of a vote to confirm a new chancellor.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as "extremist." The BfV cited the party's "ethnically and ancestrally defined concept of the people" and its anti-migrant and anti-Muslim stance as reasons for the designation. The AfD, which came in second in Germany's February elections, slammed the decision as "a blow against democracy" and claimed it was "clearly politically motivated." The designation allows the intelligence agency to closely surveil the AfD, including intercepting party communications. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk criticized the designation, with Rubio calling it "tyranny in disguise."

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an "extremist" organisation, citing its views on ethnicity as incompatible with the country's democratic order. The agency's 1,000-page report claims the AfD's ideology excludes certain groups, including German citizens with a migration background, from equal participation in society. The party's leaders have denied being extremist and described the decision as a "serious blow to German democracy". The classification allows for increased surveillance and may embolden opponents to seek a ban on the party. The decision has been welcomed by the interior minister, Nancy Faeser, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautioned against rushing to ban the party.