Proposal for a radiation safety directive for workers is now under consideration by the Commission.
Germany Classifies AfD as Confirmed Far-Right Extremist Organization
In a significant development, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been classified as a confirmed far-right extremist organization at both the federal and Brandenburg state levels. This classification allows for intensified intelligence monitoring and opens the possibility for future legal actions, including a potential ban.
On August 14-15, 2025, Brandenburg’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution declared the local AfD branch as extremist. The 140-page report highlighted substantial violations of democratic principles, increasing radicalization, xenophobic and racist rhetoric, and efforts to undermine the German constitutional order [1][3][4]. The report emphasized that the AfD in Brandenburg advocates ethnocultural exclusion and discriminates against immigrants and Muslims. It accused key representatives of hostile statements against democracy itself.
At the federal level, in May 2025, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) classified the AfD as a "confirmed far-right extremist endeavor," supported by a comprehensive 1,100-page confidential report labeling the party as racist and anti-Muslim [2]. This classification allows authorities to monitor the AfD more closely and consider limiting or suspending public funding, alongside discussing employment restrictions for AfD members in civil service roles.
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has advocated for a clear political confrontation with the AfD, urging the party to distance itself from right-wing extremists within its ranks. Woidke also suggested engaging with the AfD in areas such as energy policy, but only if the party renounces its extremist tendencies [5].
However, the AfD leadership has rejected the classification as politically motivated and claims persecution. In response, the party submitted an urgent application and lawsuit, demanding the Interior Minister make the classification public [6]. The AfD subsequently withdrew its urgent application, but the lawsuit remains ongoing [7].
Former Interior Minister Katrin Lange advocated for a political confrontation with the AfD, while Finance Minister Robert Crumbach (BSW) advocates for a content-based approach to dealing with the AfD. Crumbach believes that discussions about banning the party or not working with it are unhelpful [8]. Finance Minister Crumbach suggests that engaging with the AfD on content will reveal that they have no solutions [9].
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry plans to publish the note with reasons for the classification as far-right on August 14 [10]. The Interior Minister, René Wilke, stated that the AfD was responsible for the secrecy regarding the classification [11]. Woidke considers a possible AfD ban procedure, but believes the Office for the Protection of the Constitution's classification of the party as securely far-right should be confirmed by courts first [12].
The state offices for the protection of the constitution in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia also classify the AfD as securely far-right [13]. Woidke believes that the AfD could become a normal party by expelling extremists [14]. However, the party's radicalization path has led officials to note that a ban is possible but "still a long way off" unless the party continues its radicalization path [1][2][3].
| Level | Legal Status | Key Details | |-------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Brandenburg State | Confirmed far-right extremist | Intelligence report documents anti-constitutional aims; enables intensified surveillance and future ban prospects [1][3][4] | | Federal Level | Confirmed far-right extremist | Classified by BfV in May 2025; allows monitoring and funding/ employment restrictions; no ban yet but under consideration [2] |
Thus, the AfD is legally recognized as extremist in Brandenburg and federally, providing the basis for intensified legal scrutiny and potential prohibition steps in Germany.
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