Will AfD Be Banned?

Germany has officially designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a “confirmed far-right” organization, sparking sharp criticism from the United States.

In response to the backlash from the White House, the German Foreign Ministry defended the move, stating: "We have learned in our history that far-right extremism must be stopped." This statement alluded directly to Germany's Nazi past and the Holocaust.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused German officials of "rebuilding the Berlin Wall," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the classification a form of “covert tyranny.”

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency justified the label, citing AfD’s ideology as fundamentally opposed to the country’s free democratic order, particularly for promoting ethnic-based nationalism.

In the February federal elections, AfD secured 20.8% of the vote and 152 seats—its best-ever result—becoming the second-largest party in the Bundestag.AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla condemned the decision as "clearly political" and a “serious blow to German democracy.”

Background:

• AfD’s new far-right classification grants authorities expanded surveillance powers, including wiretapping and covert operations.

• The decision has reignited calls to ban AfD entirely, just as a crucial vote approaches to confirm conservative Friedrich Merz as chancellor in a coalition with the SPD.

• SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, expected to become vice chancellor and finance minister, said the government will “seriously consider a ban,” warning:

  "They want a different country. They want to destroy our democracy. And we must take this very seriously."

  
  

Source: BBC | Photo: Reuters