German Court Rules Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party ‘Probable Right-Wing Extremist’: What This Means for Security Services and Future Elections

Germany’s Federal Security Service could identify the Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party as a ‘probable right-wing extremist’. The judge decided that. AfD appealed against an earlier decision, but the court in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia disagreed.

In 2021, the security service identified the party as ‘probably a right-wing destination’. AfD opposed this in 2022. The party called the label against the constitution and European rules.

“There is sufficient evidence that the AfD is taking a course against democracy and the human dignity of certain population groups,” said the judge. The court also says it has evidence that at least part of the party demand that Germans with a migrant background be declared second-class citizens.

The decision makes it easier for German security services to monitor party members and investigate whether the AfD is making anti-democratic plans. This decision will also give them more powers to recruit informants within the party. In special cases, AfD members can be tapped.

At the end of last year, the party was infamous because of a secret conference where the mass porting of non-Western migrants living in Germany. The AfD denied that mass trade was being discussed at the time. One MP made it clear that foreigners must return to the country of their birth. “With millions. That’s not a secret plan. That’s a promise,” AfD member René Spinger said at the time.

Alternative für Deutschland is popular in several states in eastern Germany. In other parts of the country, popularity has declined slightly.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is pleased with the court’s ruling. “This statement shows that we are a resilient democracy.”