[Sticky] German intelligence has officially classified the far-right AfD as an extremist organization

Germany (AfD) Declared Extremist by German Intelligence

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has officially classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist organization, according to *Der Spiegel* and other German outlets.

The new designation means authorities can use stronger surveillance powers against the party, including wiretapping communications, monitoring rallies, and recruiting informants. Experts say this also lays the legal groundwork for a potential ban of the AfD by Germany’s Constitutional Court — a move unprecedented in the country’s modern political history.

* German intelligence agencies (notably the BfV – Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) have already been monitoring the AfD’s most radical factions.

* In 2024 and 2025, court rulings upheld the BfV’s right to classify the AfD as a **“suspected extremist case”** in parts of the country, especially in the east (Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt).

* Recent reporting (including *Der Spiegel* and *DW*) suggests that the BfV has **escalated** its classification, now officially labeling the **entire AfD party** as an extremist organization.

This allows full-scale surveillance and paves the way for a potential ban via the **Federal Constitutional Court** — though such a ban would be a historic and highly controversial step.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry accused the AfD of promoting an ethnic-nationalist ideology “that discriminates against entire population groups and treats immigrants as second-class Germans.” The AfD’s platform includes the deportation of migrants and refugees — including Ukrainians who fled the war — as well as calls to lift sanctions on Russia and resume imports of Russian natural gas.

The AfD has grown in popularity in eastern Germany, polling strongly ahead of regional elections. However, the extremist classification poses a serious challenge for its long-term ambitions, raising questions over whether the party can remain a legitimate player in German politics.

Political observers note that while banning a major party would be legally complex and politically divisive, the government’s move signals an unprecedented confrontation with the far right in Germany.