On May 2, 2025, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) officially classified the entire Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as a "gesichert rechtsextremistische Bestrebung" or a confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor. This significant shift in assessment marks a more severe stance from the agency, which had previously only considered the AfD a suspected right-wing extremist case at the federal level.
The decision was announced in Cologne, where the Verfassungsschutz stated that the party’s overall extremist character disregards human dignity and is directed against the free democratic basic order. According to the agency, this conclusion was reached after an extensive and thorough expert review, documented in a report exceeding 1,100 pages.
In its findings, the Verfassungsschutz highlighted that the AfD's understanding of the German nation is based on ethnic and ancestral criteria, which excludes certain groups from equal participation in society. Specifically, the agency noted that the AfD does not regard German citizens with a migration background from Muslim-influenced countries as equals within the ethnically defined German people.
Acting Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) supported the classification, emphasizing that there was no political influence on the assessment. "The Verfassungsschutz has a clear legal mandate to combat extremism and protect our democracy," she stated, reaffirming the agency's independence in this matter.
In response to the classification, the AfD leadership vehemently criticized the decision. Bavarian AfD state chairman and Bundestag member Stephan Protschka dismissed the classification as "lächerlich" (ridiculous), labeling it a farce aimed at denouncing a party that he claimed was becoming a popular movement. Protschka asserted that this decision had nothing to do with democracy.
Furthermore, AfD federal chairpersons Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla announced plans to take legal action against the classification, stating, "We will continue to legally defend ourselves against these democracy-threatening defamations." This follows their previous legal attempts to contest the party's earlier designation as a suspected right-wing extremist case, which had been unsuccessful in both the Cologne Administrative Court and the Higher Administrative Court in Münster.
The AfD's rising popularity complicates the situation further. According to the latest ARD-DeutschlandTrend, the party's voter support has increased to 24 percent, a three-point rise that brings it close to the Union party. As the strongest opposition party in the new Bundestag, the AfD's calls for representation in parliamentary positions have intensified.
In light of the new classification, discussions about a potential ban on the AfD have resurfaced. Irene Mihalic and Konstantin von Notz from the Green Party expressed their approval of the Verfassungsschutz's decision, arguing that the AfD is fundamentally at odds with the constitution and the democratic order. They emphasized that this assessment should have significant implications for how the party is treated in parliament.
Serpil Midyatli, deputy chairperson of the SPD, also voiced her support for pursuing a ban, stating, "For me, it is clear: the ban must come." She indicated that the process must be thorough and devoid of errors.
Meanwhile, Bundestag Vice President Andrea Lindholz of the CSU appealed to AfD members, urging them to reconsider their membership in light of the new classification. "Everyone must now decide whether they stand by our basic order and leave the party or whether they want to be a prominent part of an extremist endeavor," she stated. Lindholz further remarked that it would be nearly impossible for AfD representatives to hold significant parliamentary roles under these circumstances.
Despite the mounting pressure for a ban, Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautioned against hasty actions. Speaking at the Evangelical Church Congress in Hanover, he warned that the matter should not be rushed, recalling previous failed attempts to ban other extremist parties like the NPD. "We must carefully consider these matters; I am against a quick decision," he said.
The ongoing debates surrounding the AfD's classification and potential ban reflect a broader societal concern regarding the boundaries of political discourse and democratic participation in Germany. As the AfD continues to gain traction among voters, the implications of this classification will likely resonate throughout the political landscape in the coming months.
With the Verfassungsschutz's new assessment, the future of the AfD remains uncertain. The party's leadership is committed to fighting the classification legally, while its opponents are bolstered by the agency's findings, which affirm their long-held concerns about the party's alignment with democratic principles.
