<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Germany&rsquo;s domestic intelligence agency has formally designated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a &ldquo;proven right-wing extremist organization,&rdquo; intensifying a nationwide debate over democratic safeguards and the limits of political pluralism.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The announcement by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) follows a lengthy investigation that culminated in a 1,100-page report. The findings accuse the AfD of systematically promoting xenophobic, anti-Muslim, and anti-democratic rhetoric, including the use of Nazi-era language and appeals to ethnic nationalism. According to the BfV, these positions violate Germany&rsquo;s Basic Law, which enshrines human dignity and democratic governance.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The new classification grants authorities expanded surveillance powers over the party, including phone taps, online monitoring, and the use of undercover informants.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the decision, calling it &ldquo;tyranny in disguise.&rdquo; In a strongly worded statement, Rubio accused Berlin of using state power to silence political opposition and warned that such actions undermine democratic pluralism.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;This is not about protecting democracy,&rdquo; Rubio stated. &ldquo;This is about crushing dissent under the guise of national security.&rdquo;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rubio&rsquo;s remarks were echoed by other high-profile conservatives including Vice President J.D. Vance, former President Donald Trump, and billionaire Elon Musk, who labeled the move an &ldquo;attack on democracy&rdquo; via his X (formerly Twitter) account.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded firmly, stating that the government is acting to protect democracy from within.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;Democracies can be destroyed from the inside by radical anti-democrats. We must remain vigilant,&rdquo; Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Though some German politicians have called for the AfD to be banned entirely, both Scholz and opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) urged caution, warning that a ban could backfire and fuel AfD&rsquo;s anti-establishment narrative.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Despite mounting legal and political scrutiny, the AfD has seen growing support across Germany, particularly in the east. In the February 2025 elections, the party won 152 seats, capturing 20.8% of the national vote &mdash; its strongest showing to date.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">AfD leaders have rejected the extremist label, calling the BfV&rsquo;s move a politically motivated attack and a &ldquo;witch hunt&rdquo; against the voice of ordinary Germans.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Germany&rsquo;s action is likely to intensify domestic polarization and spark diplomatic friction with allies like the U.S. who see the move as overreach. At the same time, it underscores the growing challenge Western democracies face in balancing freedom of expression with safeguarding constitutional values.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the AfD plans legal challenges and global critics weigh in, the battle between national security and political freedom is only just beginning.</span></div>

Germany Labels AfD ‘Extremist’; Sparks Global Backlash

Germany’s bold move ignites a transatlantic war of words, as critics warn of democratic overreach

Rubio Slams Germany for ‘Crushing Dissent’ After AfD Ruling

Germany’s bold move ignites a transatlantic war of words, as critics warn of democratic overreach

May 3, 2025 | 11:01 IST