German spy agency labels AfD 'rightwing extremist' as critics call for party ban

Germany's domestic intelligence service has designated the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), the biggest opposition party, as a "confirmed rightwing extremist" force, meaning authorities can step up their surveillance as critics call for it to be legally banned.

- Deborah Cole

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) previously considered the anti-immigrant, pro-Kremlin party a "suspected" threat to Germany's democratic order, with three of its regional chapters in eastern states and its youth wing classed as confirmed extremist.

The AfD, which came second in the February general election with just over 20% of the vote, said it would challenge the decision in court.

The BfV said it had concluded that racist and anti-Muslim stances advanced by the AfD were "incompatible with the free democratic basic order" set out in the country's constitution.

It added that the party "aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, to subject them to unconstitutional unequal treatment and thus to assign them a legally devalued status".

The decision will clear the way for tougher measures to monitor the party for suspected illegal activity, including tapping telephone communications, observing its meetings and recruiting secret informants.