Far-right AfD designated ‘extremist’ by German domestic intelligence

 Germany’s domestic intelligence agency said on Friday it has designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a confirmed “right-wing extremist” organisation that “disregards human dignity” and threatens democracy.

The new classification, which gives the agency broader surveillance power of the AfD, is the result of a comprehensive review, the findings of which are laid out in a 1,100-page internal report. It comes just days before Germany’s new conservative-led government is set to take office under future chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The agency, called the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said there was concrete evidence that the party pursues efforts that threaten Germany’s democratic order, pointing to its anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“The party’s prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent is incompatible with the free democratic basic order,” the agency said.

Specifically, the agency said the AfD considers German citizens with roots in predominantly Muslim countries to be unequal citizens.

The report said it saw evidence of “ongoing agitation” by the party against refugees and migrants, citing statements by far-right AfD politicians in internal communications, speeches and social media, ranging from “deportation creates living space!” to “every foreigner in this country is one too many.”

Deputy AfD chairman Stephan Brandner rejected the agency’s label.

“This decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which is bound by instructions, is complete nonsense in terms of content, has nothing to do with law and justice, and is purely political in the fight of the cartel parties against the AfD,” he said.

Brandner said the party would discuss whether it would take legal action against the new classification next week.

Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD quickly shifted direction as nationalist and far-right figures rose to prominence, prompting many of its original members to depart. In this year’s German federal election the party received 20.8% of the vote.

In Europe, AfD has 14 MEPs and sits in the Europe of Sovereign Nations Group along with extremist parties from France and central and eastern Europe.