Germany’s domestic intelligence agency officially labeled the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an “extremist” group on Friday, a move that clears the way for increased government surveillance of the party, according to multiple reports.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) announced that AfD meets the criteria for right-wing extremism, citing what it described as the party’s “ethnicity and ancestry-based understanding of the people,” which it claimed is incompatible with Germany’s democratic order, according to a BBC translation of the statement.
AfD has surged in popularity in recent years, finishing second in February’s federal elections with a platform focused on curbing immigration and restoring national sovereignty. A recent INSA poll in April showed AfD polling at 24%, equal to the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the party currently holds 152 seats in the Bundestag.
The BfV had already classified the AfD as a “suspected case” of extremism in 2022, allowing initial surveillance efforts to begin. Friday’s announcement solidifies that designation and grants the government broader authority to monitor the party’s activities.
The move comes as Germany ramps up efforts to combat what it calls “information manipulation.” The government is reportedly planning a new media oversight agency to police so-called false claims, which it argues are not protected under free speech laws. This follows previous enforcement actions under Germany’s hate speech laws, including police raids and prosecutions of individuals for online posts.
Vice President JD Vance, who attended the Munich Security Conference in February, criticized Germany’s censorship laws and expressed support for AfD during his visit.
Despite ideological overlap on some issues, the CDU has refused to work with AfD, instead forming a governing coalition with the left-leaning Christian Social Union and Social Democratic Party. Chancellor Frederich Merz has repeatedly stated that his party will not cooperate with AfD under any circumstances.
