The Muenster court ruled that domestic intelligence agency had grounds to recognise Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a suspected extremist.
The administrative court in Muenster issued the ruling on Monday, May 13, The Independent reported. Previously, the same court rejected an appeal filed by the opposition party. The court ruled in favour of the BfV intelligence agency. It upheld a lower court in Cologne that issued a ruling in 2022. However, AfD can still try to appeal the judgement in the federal court.
The court suspects that a large part of the AfD wants to create a two-tier society in which people recognised as “ethnically German” will have more rights than people whose families come from abroad. Under the German constitution, this would be illegal discrimination.
Monday’s court ruling lands a blow to the AdD. The German government views it as a victory, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser claims.
Today’s ruling shows that we are a democracy that can be defended.
The national-oriented Alternative for Germany party was formed in 2013, becoming increasingly determined. Initially, its platform centred on opposing financial aid to struggling members of the euro zone. However, its strong opposition to then Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to allow the influx of refugees and migrants in 2015 made the party an important political actor.
In recent months, the AfD has been enjoying strong popularity in Germany amid growing discontent with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government.
AfD leaders claim harassment of party supporters by the authorities to influence its public support. However, the popular backing declined after prominent media reported in January that supporters of the movement met to allegedly discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including those with German citizenship.
The meeting was also reportedly attended by some party officials. The news provoked widespread protests in the country against national-oriented movements.
