The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the AfD as right-wing extremist – political storm in Rhineland-Palatinate!

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the AfD as right-wing extremist – political storm in Rhineland-Palatinate!

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as “certainly right-wing extremist”. This emerges from a comprehensive report that runs to over 1,100 pages and cites numerous statements by AfD politicians. The classification is seen as a serious step that could have a number of consequences, especially if the AfD's lawsuit against this decision at the Cologne Administrative Court is not successful. While the appeals have been filed, the classification remains suspended pending a court decision( SWR ).

The report accuses the AfD of representing an “ethnic-descended concept of the people” that is classified as incompatible with the free-democratic basic order. Around half of the 20 officials and elected representatives of the Rhineland-Palatinate AfD are mentioned by name in this report, including Jan Bollinger, the state chairman of the AfD in Rhineland-Palatinate, and Sebastian Münzenmaier, a central player within the party( ZDF ).

Critical statements and right-wing extremist connections

The report highlights serious allegations against the party: AfD politicians distinguish between “ethnic Germans” and “passport Germans” and spread discriminatory views about Muslims as well as conspiracy theories on the subject of the “Great Exchange”. These racist patterns of argument are considered questionable by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution( SWR ).

Nicole Höchst, a member of the Bundestag from Rhineland-Palatinate, is quoted as comparing immigrants with invasive species, which the Office for the Protection of the Constitution also sees as using racist arguments. In addition, Bernd Schattner, also a member of the Bundestag, expressed controversial views by claiming that “knife attacks are practically the order of the day,” which was classified as a distortion of the facts( SWR ).

Public reactions and political consequences

The publication of the report led to intensive discussions. In Mainz and Hachenburg, demonstrators called for a ban on the AfD. The green parliamentary group in Rhineland-Palatinate supports a corresponding ban proposal in the Bundesrat, while the state government intends to wait for a uniform positioning at the upcoming interior ministers' conference in June( SWR ).

The AfD reacts vehemently to the allegations and sees its political orientation threatened. The report illustrates increasing ideological homogenization within the party, while the influence of figures like Björn Höcke is increasing. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which examined the arguments of 353 people from the AfD environment, considers the party to be anti-democratic, which could have serious consequences for its political future( ZDF ).