Germany’s intelligence agency withdraws extremist label for AfD pending court ruling

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has suspended its classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a “proven right-wing extremist organisation” at least temporarily, awaiting court decision. 

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) made the abrupt reversal just six days after announcing it had gathered “definitive evidence” that the AfD aims to undermine the country’s democratic order. The BfV has now informed an administrative court in Cologne that it will revert to classifying the party as a “suspected case” — a lower-tier designation that still permits surveillance but under stricter judicial supervision, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The decision comes in response to an urgent court filing by the AfD, which accused the outgoing government of launching a politically motivated attack ahead of its departure from office. In its filing, the BfV did not provide a detailed explanation for the sudden change.

The agency’s initial move was based on a 1,000-page internal analysis and marked the first time a party with full representation in the Bundestag had been officially labelled as a confirmed right-wing extremist group. Such a designation would have expanded the BfV’s surveillance capabilities, including the use of informants.

The retreat is expected to fuel further political debate over whether the AfD — which currently leads in national opinion polls — should face a formal ban. The party has repeatedly criticised the classification as an attempt to undermine its credibility during a sensitive political transition.

“We will keep fighting this in court,” AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said in a joint statement.

By Sabina Mammadli