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Euronews
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
German far-right AfD party files lawsuit over 'right-wing extremist' designation
ADVERTISEMENT The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has filed a lawsuit against the country's agency tasked with protecting the constitution after it designated the party as "right-wing extremist" last Friday. Daniel Tapp, a spokesperson for the AfD's co-leader Alice Weidel, told dpa news agency that a letter outlining this was sent to the responsible administrative court in Cologne. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) on Friday designated the AfD as a right-wing extremist organisation. It concluded "after intensive examination" over a three-year period that racist and anti-Muslim stances advanced by the party were incompatible with the "free democratic order" set out in the country's constitution. Its positions on individuals with a migrant background were based on an 'ethnic-ancestry-based understanding' of German identity. Furthermore, the party's aims "exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, to subject them to unconstitutional unequal treatment and thus to assign them a legally devalued status', the BfV said. Immediately after the ruling, the AfD called it a "serious blow to German democracy" and argued that the BfV was violating the country's constitution. The party's co-leaders, Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, said the AfD would "exhaust all legal means to defend the free democratic basic order." Opponents have previously called for the AfD to be banned on the grounds that it seeks to undermine democratic values. Domestic intelligence has already classified factions of the party, including its entire youth wing, as extremist. The classification of the entire party has reignited a debate about whether it should be outlawed, although several politicians, including outgoing Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have warned against making a "hasty decision". Related Germany designates AfD as right-wing extremist organisation, citing threat to democracy US Secretary of State Rubio says Germany is a 'tyranny in disguise' after AfD verdict Shortly before the classification, other political parties debated how far the AfD, the second-strongest party in parliament with 152 seats, should be integrated into parliamentary decision-making. Deputy leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Jens Spahn, previously called for the AfD to be treated like "any other opposition party". In light of the BfV's ruling, Spahn said that his party took the classification "seriously". CDU, alongside the Social Democrats (SPD) who are set to form a new coalition government on Tuesday, would "closely coordinate on how to deal with the AfD in parliamentary proceedings," Spahn added.
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
AfD sues German intelligence over ‘unlawful' extremist label: ‘tyranny in disguise'
The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party on Monday sued the domestic intelligence service for classifying it as a right-wing extremist organisation, in a move that subjects it to greater surveillance from authorities. Advertisement The party, known as AfD, which placed second in national elections in February, took legal action at an administrative court in the western city of Cologne where the domestic intelligence service has its headquarters, Daniel Tapp, a spokesman for party leader Alice Weidel, said. A court spokesperson confirmed that the party filed a suit and an urgent motion, according to the DPA news agency. AfD has rejected the classification and called it unlawful. The move by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution – the formal name of the domestic intelligence service – means its officials can now use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor the party's activities nationwide. The office warned of a threat to the country's democratic order, saying the anti-immigration party 'disregards human dignity,' in particular by what it called 'ongoing agitation' against refugees and migrants. Advertisement Far-right parties have been gaining ground across Europe and the AfD attracts international attention, including support from tech billionaire Elon Musk , who is a close ally of US President Donald Trump Some top Trump administration officials have criticised the decision, prompting a retort from the German Foreign Ministry.
Washington Post
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany sues after spy agency labels it an extremist party
BERLIN — The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party on Monday sued the domestic intelligence service for classifying it as a right-wing extremist organization in a move that subjects it to greater surveillance from authorities. The party, known as AfD, which placed second in national elections in February, took legal action at an administrative court in the western city of Cologne where the domestic intelligence service has its headquarters, Daniel Tapp, a spokesman for party leader Alice Weidel, said. A court spokesperson confirmed that the party filed a suit and an urgent motion, according to the DPA news agency. AfD has rejected the classification and called it unlawful. The move by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution — the formal name of the domestic intelligence service — means its officials can now use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor the party's activities nationwide. The office warned of a threat to the country's democratic order, saying the anti-immigration party 'disregards human dignity,' in particular by what it called 'ongoing agitation' against refugees and migrants. Far-right parties have been gaining ground across Europe and the AfD attracts international attention, including support from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Some top Trump administration officials have criticized the decision, prompting a retort from the German Foreign Ministry. In a social media post on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Germany to undo the classification, saying the move to give new powers to the spy agency to surveil the opposition amounted to 'tyranny in disguise.' In its own social media post responding directly to Rubio, the Foreign Ministry wrote 'this is democracy' and said the decision was 'the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law.' The ministry added that 'independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped.' Vice President JD Vance , who met with Weidel after the elections in February, wrote on social media that AfD was 'by far the most representative' party in formerly Communist eastern Germany, adding: 'Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it.' AfD has long faced criticism for Russia-friendly positions , and opposes Germany's stance toward the war in Ukraine . Berlin is Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier after the United States. The lawsuit comes just a day before conservative leader Friedrich Merz , whose party won the February elections, was set to be chosen as Germany's chancellor, replacing Olaf Scholz.
Associated Press
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany sues after spy agency labels it an extremist party
BERLIN (AP) — The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party on Monday sued the domestic intelligence service for classifying it as a right-wing extremist organization in a move that subjects it to greater surveillance from authorities. The party, known as AfD, which placed second in national elections in February, took legal action at an administrative court in the western city of Cologne where the domestic intelligence service has its headquarters, Daniel Tapp, a spokesman for party leader Alice Weidel, said. A court spokesperson confirmed that the party filed a suit and an urgent motion, according to the DPA news agency. AfD has rejected the classification and called it unlawful. The move by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution — the formal name of the domestic intelligence service — means its officials can now use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor the party's activities nationwide. The office warned of a threat to the country's democratic order, saying the anti-immigration party 'disregards human dignity,' in particular by what it called 'ongoing agitation' against refugees and migrants. Far-right parties have been gaining ground across Europe and the AfD attracts international attention, including support from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Some top Trump administration officials have criticized the decision, prompting a retort from the German Foreign Ministry. In a social media post on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Germany to undo the classification, saying the move to give new powers to the spy agency to surveil the opposition amounted to 'tyranny in disguise.' In its own social media post responding directly to Rubio, the Foreign Ministry wrote 'this is democracy' and said the decision was 'the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law.' The ministry added that 'independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped.' Vice President JD Vance, who met with Weidel after the elections in February, wrote on social media that AfD was 'by far the most representative' party in formerly Communist eastern Germany, adding: 'Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it.' AfD has long faced criticism for Russia-friendly positions, and opposes Germany's stance toward the war in Ukraine. Berlin is Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier after the United States. The lawsuit comes just a day before conservative leader Friedrich Merz, whose party won the February elections, was set to be chosen as Germany's chancellor, replacing Olaf Scholz.
