German intelligence must pause extremist label for AfD

Source: DW

An administrative court in the western German city of Cologne on Thursday ordered the country's domestic intelligence agency to cease referring to the political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as "confirmed right-wing extremist" until the designation's legality can be determined.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) classified the AfD as "certified right wing extremist" (gesichert rechtsextrem in German) in May 2025. In response, the AfD filed an emergency injunction. Thursday's decision is the first preliminary legal judgement in the case.

Judges found that while there was evidence of potentially unconstitutional statements and policies within the AfD, including demands to ban the Muslim call to prayer or minarets, it said that there was not sufficient evidence to characterize the party as a whole as extremist.

"Following examination under the summary procedure, it cannot ‌currently ​be established that the applicant, as a whole, is dominated by the positions discussed above," the court said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/german-intelligence-must-pause-extremist-label-for-afd/a-76140587

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Just earlier this week I was watching the PBS Frontline documentary "The Rise of Germany's New Right". The BfV's findings were part of the story.

PBS uploaded the full show on YouTube for free viewing: