AfD Sues German Intelligence Over Extremist Label

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party filed a lawsuit on Monday against the country’s domestic intelligence service after it was classified as a right-wing extremist organization, a move that grants authorities sweeping surveillance powers over the party.

The case was submitted to an administrative court in Cologne, where the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, is headquartered. The designation allows the BfV to monitor the AfD using informants, wiretaps, and other covert methods, citing concerns over the party’s threat to democratic order.

In a statement, the BfV accused the AfD of “disregarding human dignity,” particularly through its “ongoing agitation” against refugees and migrants, many from Muslim-majority countries. The agency’s 1,100-page report—which remains confidential—allegedly details the party’s racist and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

The AfD, which placed second in February’s national elections, denounced the classification as politically motivated. “With our lawsuit, we are sending a clear signal against the abuse of state power to combat and exclude the opposition,” said party leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel. They accused the BfV of attempting to “distort democratic competition and delegitimize millions of votes.”

International Backlash and Historical Echoes

The decision has drawn criticism from U.S. conservatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the move “tyranny in disguise” in a social media post. Germany’s Foreign Ministry fired back, defending the BfV’s independence and stating, “We have learned from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped.”

AfD, founded in 2013, initially opposed eurozone bailouts before gaining traction by rejecting former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 2015 refugee policies. It has since become a significant force, particularly in eastern Germany, while facing scrutiny over its pro-Russia stance and opposition to German military aid for Ukraine.

The legal challenge comes a day before conservative leader Friedrich Merz is set to be sworn in as chancellor, succeeding Olaf Scholz. Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) finalized a coalition agreement on Monday, reviving a center-right alliance aimed at sidelining the far right.

The AfD’s lawsuit marks a pivotal moment in Germany’s political landscape, testing the balance between security oversight and democratic opposition.