Germany’s Foreign Office has taken a firm stance in support of its classification of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as extremist, following intense backlash from U.S. politicians. The designation has drawn critical remarks from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who both accused German officials of imposing a “tyranny in disguise.”
In a rare move, the Foreign Office responded directly to Rubio’s comments on social media platform X, stating, “We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped.” This reinforces the decision made by Germany’s intelligence agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), which found that the AfD promotes a definition of membership in society that excludes certain ethnic and religious groups, including Muslims.
The AfD, which garnered a notable 20.8% of votes in the recent federal elections, claiming 152 seats in parliament, has been labeled extremist primarily in response to its rhetoric around ethnic identity. Joint leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla criticized the decision as politically motivated, with Chrupalla suggesting that this was how an authoritarian regime would treat opposing parties.
The classification grants German authorities expanded powers to surveil the AfD, employing methods such as phone tapping and undercover operations. In response, Rubio took to social media declaring this action reflects a deviation from democratic principles. However, the German Foreign Office maintained that the measures are a necessary precaution against rising extremism.
JD Vance, who has expressed support for the AfD, accused German bureaucrats of creating a new "Berlin Wall," a reference to the historical division of East and West Berlin. The issue has sparked renewed discussions on whether to outlaw the party altogether, a move suggested by various political leaders ahead of an upcoming parliamentary vote crucial to the future of Germany’s political landscape.
As tensions rise, political leaders like Lars Klingbeil from the Social Democrats (SPD) are emphasizing the need to take threats to democracy seriously, indicating that a careful evaluation of the AfD's role in Germany's political future will be necessary.
