Overview

• The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) labeled Alternative for Germany (AfD) a right-wing extremist organization on May 2, 2025, following a three-year investigation.
• AfD filed an urgent appeal on May 5, 2025, with the Cologne Administrative Court, contesting the classification as illegitimate and politically motivated.
• The extremist designation enables intensified surveillance of AfD, including the use of wiretaps and informants, while preserving the party's right to challenge excessive measures in court.
• German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser defended the BfV's decision as impartial and clarified that the classification does not automatically lead to a party ban.
• AfD leadership, including Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, condemned the move as a political attack, citing recent polls that position the party as Germany's leading political force.