German Court Pauses AfD Extremist Labeling

Germany’s domestic intelligence service (BfV) has been ordered to temporarily halt referring to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist. The ruling came from Cologne’s administrative court on Thursday, offering a boost to the party ahead of upcoming state elections. The court granted an injunction filed by the AfD, contesting the BfV’s 2025 decision to classify and treat the party as extremist. While the BfV can continue to monitor the AfD, the injunction prevents the use of the “right-wing extremist” label until a full ruling is made – a timeline for which remains unclear. The court stated it could not currently establish that the AfD is dominated by extremist positions. The initial classification in May sparked debate within Germany and drew criticism internationally, including from the U.S. Previously, the designation would have allowed increased surveillance measures, such as intercepting communications. Despite the ruling, the AfD’s views are not expected to change among the German public.