Germany Classifies AfD as Right-Wing Extremist Organization

Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, has officially designated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a right-wing extremist organization, citing its anti-democratic rhetoric and exclusionary views toward minorities, particularly immigrants and Muslims. This classification follows a multi-year investigation and grants authorities expanded surveillance powers, though it does not constitute a ban on the party. The move has fueled heated debate within Germany, with critics warning it could set the stage for a potential ban, while Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Chancellor Olaf Scholz defend the agency's independence and caution against precipitous legal action. AfD leaders have condemned the decision as a politically motivated attack and are pursuing legal challenges, arguing their views reflect legitimate concerns about migration and national identity. Internationally, the decision drew criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who labeled the surveillance expansion 'tyranny in disguise' and called for a reversal. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between safeguarding democratic principles and confronting extremist movements in European politics.