German court orders far-right party to vacate Berlin headquarters by October 2026

A Berlin civil court has ruled that Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), must vacate its national headquarters, but granted the party a grace period until October 2026 to comply with the order.

The dispute stems from an unauthorized election-night celebration hosted by the AfD in February, during which the party projected its logo onto the building and used the courtyard for festivities without the consent of the property owner. The event coincided with the party’s strong performance in regional elections, where it surged to second place nationwide, Euractiv reports.

The Austrian landlord, who owns the premises in Berlin’s Reinickendorf district, responded by terminating the lease, citing not only the unauthorized use of the property but also the disruption caused by heightened security measures, which he argued interfered with other tenants in the complex.

The AfD refused to vacate the premises, prompting a legal battle over the validity of the lease termination.

On September 26, the court ruled in favor of the landlord, affirming his right to end the tenancy. However, it also determined that the eviction process had not been properly executed, particularly due to the absence of a formal warning prior to lease cancellation. As a result, the court extended the party's right to remain in the building until October 2026, allowing time for an orderly transition.

By Vafa Guliyeva