Germany's domestic intelligence service has officially classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "proven right-wing extremist organisation", the most serious step yet in Berlin's efforts to curb the growing political force.
The move, announced on Friday by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), means that the AfD is no longer just a suspect, the POLIZICOP website reported. Intelligence officials said they now have definitive evidence that the party is working against Germany's democratic system.
According to the German public broadcaster ARD, the decision is backed by a 1 000-page internal report that cites violations of fundamental constitutional principles such as human dignity and the rule of law.
This is the first time in modern German history that a party with national representation in parliament has been formally designated as extremist. Some AfD regional branches have already received this designation.
The new classification does not ban the party, but allows German authorities to step up surveillance, including the use of undercover informants and monitoring communications under judicial supervision.
It also increases political tensions as the established parties will face increasing pressure to rule out cooperation with the AfD at any level of government.
The ruling could also prompt calls for a formal ban on the party, although this would require the approval of the highest constitutional court and the support of the national government or parliament - a legally and politically difficult fight.
In response, the AfD sharply criticised the country's domestic intelligence service, calling it a "severe blow to German democracy".
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned against a hasty ban on the AfD, despite the new classification. "I believe it's not something that should be done hastily," said the politician. He noted that the Federal Constitutional Court had rejected all recent attempts to ban the parties. But he added that the intelligence report had been prepared with great care.
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