Radicalism or Fanaticism - The Federation for Constitutional Safeguarding notices an increase in the number of right-wing extremists.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has noticed an increase in the number of people classified as right-wing extremists. "We're witnessing a revival, even among violent right-wing extremists," said BfV President Thomas Haldenwang to the German Press Agency.
The BfV will release its report for 2023 next week. This rise in the number of people in the right-wing extremist spectrum is attributed to different structures within right-wing extremism. In 2022, it was different.
The growth of 14.5% to an estimated 38,800 right-wing extremists in the BfV report for 2022 was predominantly because, for the first time, a part of the AfD, which is monitored by the BfV as a suspicion case, was included. At the time, it was said, "Considering the ongoing content diversity within the party, not all party members can be viewed as supporters of extreme currents."
The BfV believes that around 10,200 members of the AfD and its youth wing (Young Alternative) can be attributed to these currents. The party and its youth organization's lawsuits against being classified as a suspicion case were unsuccessful in May, after the Higher Administrative Court in Münster ruled against them.
The BfV is actively working on reassessing the AfD. As mentioned by the BfV president, a suspicion case must be continuously and effectively examined. This could lead to three scenarios: either the suspicion fails to be confirmed, and the surveillance is terminated; or, on the other hand, the suspicion is substantiated, leading to a classification as a proven right-wing extremist observation target. Alternatively, certain aspects may still require further examination, leaving it as a suspicion case.
In March 2021, the BfV declared the entire AfD as a suspicion case. Since then, "an increase in right-wing extremist tendencies within the party has been observed," explained Haldenwang.
Read also:
- The increase in right-wing extremism in Germany has drawn the attention of secret services, particularly the Federation for Constitutional Safeguarding.
- The Secret Services Chief, Thomas Haldenwang, mentioned in a statement to the German Press Agency that there's a resurgence, even among violent right-wing extremists.
- The growth in right-wing extremism in Germany, as reported by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), is partly due to the inclusion of the AfD, a German political party, for the first time.
- The BfV estimates that around 10,200 members of the AfD and its youth wing, Young Alternative, can be attributed to right-wing extremist currents.
- In Berlin, the Higher Administrative Court in Münster dismissed the AfD's lawsuits against being classified as a suspicion case, further strengthening the BfV's observation of right-wing extremist tendencies within the party.
