AfD sues German intelligence agency over ‘extremist’ label

By AFP
May 06, 2025
An election poster of candidate and co-leader of Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel is seen in front of the headquarters of the Christian Democratic CDU party with a picture of the CDUs candidate and leader Friedrich Merz on its facade, Berlin, February 24, 2025. —AFP
An election poster of candidate and co-leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel is seen in front of the headquarters of the Christian Democratic CDU party with a picture of the CDU's candidate and leader Friedrich Merz on its facade, Berlin, February 24, 2025. —AFP

BERLIN: Germany´s far-right AfD went on the offensive on Monday against its designation as a “right-wing extremist” party by the domestic intelligence agency, as the move further inflamed ties with US President Donald Trump´s administration.

A spokesman for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) told AFP the party had lodged a court challenge against the BfV agency´s designation on Monday, the day before incoming conservative chancellor Friedrich Merz is due to take office.

The BfV intelligence agency said on Friday it considered the AfD a “confirmed” right-wing extremist group, citing the “xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic and anti-Muslim statements made by leading party officials”. The classification will help authorities seek greater powers to monitor the party with phone taps and undercover agents, and has fuelled fresh calls for an outright ban on the AfD. Members of Trump´s administration were quick to leap to the AfD´s defence in the wake of the BfV´s decision.

US Vice President JD Vance described the AfD -- which like Trump has campaigned against immigration -- as “the most popular party in Germany”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the intelligence agency´s move “tyranny in disguise” and said “Germany should reverse course”.