In Muenster, Germany, a German court is set to make a decision this week regarding whether security services can classify the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and its youth wing as suspected extremist organizations. This ruling could have significant implications for the party in the upcoming European elections.
If the higher administrative court in Muenster upholds a previous court decision, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) will have the authority to use various intelligence tools against the party. These measures could range from phone tapping to recruiting informants within the party.
Leaders of the AfD have made controversial statements, such as referring to citizens of foreign ethnic backgrounds as “passport Germans” and expressing concerns about “fecund Africans” entering Germany. The party, which holds 78 seats in the Bundestag, insists that it is a democratic and non-extremist entity.
Regional branches of the party have already been classified as extremist threats, and a confirmation of suspected extremist status could impact the party’s standing in western Germany, where it is less established, and voters are more wary of extremist labels.
The case, titled “AfD versus Federal Republic of Germany,” highlights the significance of the decision for a country that has worked to establish a strong democracy with safeguards against extremism. The rise of the far-right AfD, polling as high as one-third of the vote in certain areas, poses a challenge to Germany’s democratic values.
If found to be a suspected extremist organization, the AfD may face difficulties in European partnerships. Potential allies, like Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party in France, have expressed concerns about working with a party labeled as racist.
Since 2021, the BfV has treated the AfD as a possible extremist group, and a lower court previously rejected the party’s appeal against this classification. The court in Muenster, where the BfV’s headquarters are located, is expected to deliver a final ruling on Tuesday following two days of hearings.
While the party has gained support in eastern states with its anti-establishment and anti-immigration messages, it has also faced backlash. Revelations of discussions about “remigration” of “unintegrated” German citizens, interpreted as advocating the expulsion of non-ethnic Germans, sparked protests and concerns from influential figures in German society.
Despite a slight dip in the polls, the AfD remains in second place with around 19% support, trailing behind the opposition conservatives but ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats. The outcome of the court ruling will have important implications for the party’s future trajectory. (Reporting by Thomas Escritt; editing by Giles Elgood and Ed Osmond)
