The designation gives authorities greater monitoring powers over the AfD, and lawmakers are now considering a potential ban on the party.
Germany Stands Firm on AfD's Extremist Label Amid US Criticism

Germany Stands Firm on AfD's Extremist Label Amid US Criticism
Germany's Foreign Office defends its classification of the AfD as extremist, following backlash from US officials.
In the wake of the German Foreign Office's classification of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, US officials, including Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, criticized the designation as a move towards "tyranny in disguise." In a rare response, the German Foreign Office stated on social media that it is crucial to learn from history and prevent the rise of right-wing extremism. The classification by the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) found that the AfD promotes an exclusionary understanding of citizenship based on ethnicity, which contradicts Germany's democratic principles. The AfD, which experienced significant electoral success in recent elections, has denounced the classification as politically motivated. This designation grants authorities expanded powers to monitor the party, intensifying calls for a potential ban on the AfD, particularly as the coalition government. The situation highlights the broader tensions in German politics regarding the far-right's role in the democratic landscape.