In a stunning development that has shaken Germany’s political landscape, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has temporarily suspended its classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a “confirmed right-wing extremist” group. The decision, announced on May 8, follows a fierce legal challenge from the AfD and a wave of public and political criticism over the agency’s controversial move.

The BfV had only recently escalated its monitoring of the AfD, citing a detailed report that accused the party of promoting exclusionary policies targeting individuals with migrant backgrounds, particularly Muslims. According to the agency, the AfD’s rhetoric-including references to “knife-wielding migrants”-was evidence that it fostered prejudice and “disregarded human dignity” by ascribing violent tendencies to non-European ethnic groups.

However, the AfD leadership immediately condemned the extremist classification as politically motivated and damaging to democratic principles. The party filed a lawsuit in a Cologne court, challenging the legitimacy and evidence behind the BfV’s decision. In response, the intelligence agency not only suspended the classification but also removed the original press release announcing the extremist label from its website.

While the BfV has downgraded its categorization of the AfD to a “suspected case” of extremism-still allowing surveillance but with tighter judicial oversight-this climbdown is widely seen as a significant victory........

© Blitz