Which AfD branches are actually (not) being monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution?

Next case in NRW - Which AfD branches are actually (not) being monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution?

Now also the youth organization of the Alternative for Germany(AfD) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW): The Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany's most populous federal state has classified the state association of the Junge Alternative (JA) as a suspected right-wing extremist organization. "There are strong indications that the Junge Alternative does not play by democratic rules, but prefers its own right-wing extremist set of rules," NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) announced on Tuesday. The decision means that the domestic secret service can now also use intelligence services to monitor the party organization, for example by recruiting informants or conducting surveillance. However, these may only relate to extra-parliamentary activities because members of the Bundestag or state parliaments enjoy immunity.

This is by no means the first time that the domestic intelligence service has classified a branch of the AfD as an anti-constitutional suspect. Thomas Haldenwang, President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has repeatedly emphasized in the past that his agency currently considers right-wing extremism to be the greatest threat to the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the meantime, a number of AfD sub-organizations across Germany are classified as suspected right-wing extremists and monitored accordingly - unique in the German party landscape. The overview:

AfD state associations in the focus of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Three of the 16 AfD state associations are considered to be confirmed right-wing extremist according to the respective constitution protection offices, including the Thuringian association of party leader Björn Höcke, which is considered to be particularly radical. Five other state associations are listed as suspected cases.

The classification of the federal party has been the subject of legal wrangling in recent years. The BfV was forbidden by court order to publicly designate the party as a "test case"; the federal AfD has now also become a suspected case and may be monitored, although the party also wants to take legal action against this.

Young Alternative in the focus of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Where there is a party, there is also a youth organization. In the case of the AfD, this is the JA for members between 14 and 36, according to "Spiegel" there are around 2100. The JA is therefore one of the largest associations within the party - and is also of particular interest to the intelligence services in several federal states. The most recent classification of the NRW-JA as a suspected right-wing extremist organization is the sixth of its kind. Three JA state associations are also considered by the offices for the protection of the constitution to be confirmed right-wing extremist.

The BfV considers the JA to be definitely right-wing extremist. There is no doubt that the AfD youth organization is pursuing unconstitutional goals.

Other AfD groups in the focus of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Until its (at least official) dissolution, the nationalist group Der Flügel within the AfD was also monitored by the intelligence service as a suspected case. Up to 7,000 supporters were attributed to it. Its leaders included two far-right politicians, Björn Höcke and Andreas Kalbitz. As the wing was a rather informal circle, it is difficult to prove that it actually disbanded. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has not published any findings that indicate a cessation of activities.

According to the 2022 report on the protection of the constitution, the BfV assumes that around 10,000 AfD members, i.e. almost a third, are extremist.

The AfD has repeatedly criticized the actions of the intelligence services as politically motivated and considers its (fundamental) rights as an opposition party to be restricted. Several court cases against the classifications of the offices for the protection of the constitution are still pending. The authorities are required to carry out their assessments on the basis of objective criteria and have also made these - at least in part - public in their annual reports.

Constitution Protection Report 2022 of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Constitution Protection Reports 2022 of the State Offices for the Protection of the Constitution, news agencies DPA and AFP

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1. Amidst the ongoing scrutiny of right-wing extremism in Germany, the youth organization of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has been classified as a suspected right-wing extremist organization by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
2. The Top News headlines state that NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) announced this classification, citing strong indications of the Junge Alternative (JA) not adhering to democratic rules.
3. This classification allows the domestic secret service in NRW to use intelligence measures, such as recruiting informants or conducting surveillance, related to the extra-parliamentary activities of the JA.
4. The classification of the JA in NRW follows several other AfD sub-organizations across Germany being classified as suspected right-wing extremists, leading to increased scrutiny from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
5. In particular, the Thuringian association of party leader Björn Höcke is considered a confirmed right-wing extremist organization, while five other state associations, including the NRW-JA, are listed as suspected cases.
6. The classification of the AfD and its youth organization as suspected right-wing extremist entities has been a subject of legal disputes, with the party contesting these classifications and pursuing legal actions against them.
7. Critics argue that the monitoring of the AfD and its affiliates by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is politically motivated, while proponents argue that it is necessary to protect the constitution and prevent the spread of right-wing extremism.

Source: www.stern.de