News about Germany

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Court confirms German intelligence surveillance of ‘extremist’ AfD

A German court has ruled that domestic security services can continue to treat the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a potentially “extremist” party.

The ruling, delivered on Monday, means that intelligence services retain the right to keep the party under surveillance. The AfD, which is running second in polls and hopes to secure a significant number of seats in upcoming regional and European Union elections, has said it will appeal.

“The court finds there is sufficient evidence that the AfD pursues goals that run against the human dignity of certain groups and against democracy,” Judges at the higher administrative court in Muenster said.

“There are grounds to suspect at least part of the party wants to accord second-rank status to German citizens with a migration background.”

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency charged with protecting the democratic order from extremist threats, classified the AfD as potentially extreme in 2021.

In 2022, a court in Cologne found that the designation was proportionate and did not violate the constitution or European or domestic civil law.

The court in Muenster upheld the lower court’s findings, confirming that German intelligence can keep the AfD under surveillance, including the use of wiretaps and the recruitment of internal informants.

“This ruling shows that our democracy can defend itself,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in a statement. “It has tools that protect it from internal threats.”

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