Overview

• The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution declared the Alternative for Germany (AfD) a confirmed extremist group, citing its ideology as incompatible with democratic principles.
• This classification enables German authorities to intensify surveillance, including monitoring private communications and infiltrating the party's ranks.
• AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla condemned the move as politically motivated and vowed to challenge it through legal means.
• The decision has reignited discussions about banning the AfD, though constitutional hurdles for such action remain significant.
• U.S. officials, including Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance, criticized the classification as authoritarian, accusing Germany of suppressing political opposition.