Banning the AfD Exposes EU Hypocrisy: Let the People Decide! By Richard Miller (Londonistan)
The recent declaration by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) labelling the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a "definitely right-wing extremist" party, as reported on May 3, 2025, reeks of political bias and EU overreach. The AfD's supposed crime? Pursuing efforts against the "free democratic order," according to the BfV, with new designations paving the way for a potential ban. Yet, this move begs a glaring question: why isn't Left-wing extremism, equally "dangerous," facing the same scrutiny? The answer exposes a double standard that undermines democracy itself. Neither the AfD nor Left-wing extremists should be banned—they're legitimate political movements, and the people, not EU elites, must decide their fate.
The AfD, now Germany's second-largest party with 20% voter support (ARD Deutschlandtrend, April 2025), has been under fire for its anti-immigration, anti-EU stance. The BfV claims the party's surveillance of members, phone taps, and infiltration efforts reveal a threat to democracy, with Federal spokespersons Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla decrying the decision as a "severe blow to democracy." They're right. The AfD's platform—opposition to open borders, scepticism of climate policies, and criticism of EU bureaucracy—resonates with millions of Germans fed up with the establishment. Labelling them "extremist" for these views is a convenient way to silence dissent.
The BfV's actions, backed by the Federal Office, smack of political manipulation. The AfD's rise threatens the EU's globalist agenda—open borders, centralised power, and cultural homogenisation. By classifying the AfD as a national extremist group, the state sets the stage for a ban, a move the BfV itself admits is being "publicly discredited and criminalised shortly before the change of government." This timing isn't coincidental; it's a pre-emptive strike to curb the AfD's influence as elections loom in 2025, where polls predict they could secure 25% of the vote (Forsa, May 2025).
If the AfD's Right-wing views justify a ban, where's the outrage over Left-wing extremism? The Left Party (Die Linke) and its radical factions, like the Communist Platform, openly advocate for dismantling capitalism, nationalising industries, and abolishing private property—positions that clash with Germany's free market democracy. Left-wing groups like Antifa have been linked to 1,200 violent incidents in 2024, including arson and assaults on police (German Interior Ministry, 2025), yet face no equivalent scrutiny. The Red Army Faction's legacy—responsible for 34 murders in the 1970s-90s—still inspires Left-wing radicals, with 15% of Die Linke members expressing sympathy for socialist revolution (Infratest dimap, 2024).
The double standard is blatant. Left-wing extremism gets a pass because it aligns with the EU's progressive dogma—open borders, wealth redistribution, and cultural relativism. The BfV's focus on the AfD, while ignoring Antifa's street violence or Die Linke's Marxist rhetoric, reveals a politically motivated agenda. If "threats to democracy" are the criterion, why isn't the Left under the same microscope? The answer: EU elites fear the Right's challenge to their power more than the Left's utopian fantasies.
Here's the crux: neither the AfD nor Left-wing extremists should be banned. They're legitimate political movements, reflecting real grievances among the German people. The AfD channels frustration over immigration—Germany took in 1.2 million migrants since 2020, driving crime up 10% (Destatis, 2025)—and EU overreach, with 60% of Germans feeling Brussels overrides national sovereignty (Eurobarometer, 2025). Die Linke, for all its flaws, speaks to economic despair, with 20% of Germans living below the poverty line (Statistisches Landesamt, 2025).
Banning either stifles democracy. The people must decide, not unelected bureaucrats or EU technocrats. Germany's history of banning parties—like the Nazi Party post-WWII—is a slippery slope; it's only justified in cases of clear incitement to violence, which the AfD hasn't been convicted of. The BfV's "suspected case" label, now upgraded to "definitely extremist," relies on surveillance and subjective interpretation, not court rulings. Meanwhile, left-wing violence goes unchecked, with Antifa's 2024 Berlin riots causing €5 million in damages (Berlin Police, 2025).
Let the People Decide, Not EU ElitesThe EU's fingerprints are all over this. The European Commission's 2024 Democracy Report urged member states to "counter far-Right extremism," conveniently ignoring the far Left. EU elites fear the AfD's Euroskepticism, which mirrors growing discontent—40% of Europeans want less EU integration (Eurobarometer, 2025). By targeting the AfD, they aim to suppress a movement that could inspire similar parties across the bloc, like France's National Rally (25% support) or Italy's Brothers of Italy (28% support).
This isn't about protecting democracy; it's about protecting power. The German people, not Brussels, should decide their future. If the AfD's ideas are dangerous, let voters reject them at the ballot box. If Die Linke's socialism is a fantasy, let the electorate say so. Democracy thrives on debate, not censorship. The BfV's move, backed by EU rhetoric, undermines the very freedoms it claims to protect.
Germany needs a legally partisan stand to preserve democracy:
1.Halt the Ban: The Bundestag must reject any move to ban the AfD unless clear, court-proven evidence of violence emerges. The same standard applies to Left-wing groups.
2.Audit the BfV: Investigate the Office for bias—its selective focus on the Right while ignoring Left-wing threats suggests political interference.
3.Protect Free Speech: Pass laws shielding political parties from surveillance unless they actively incite violence, ensuring open debate.
4.Empower Voters: Hold a referendum on EU influence in German politics—let the people decide how much power Brussels should have.
Banning the AfD for being "Right-wing extremist" while sparing Left-wing radicals exposes the EU's hypocrisy and fear of losing control. Neither side should be silenced—they're legitimate voices in a democracy, and the German people, not EU elites, must judge them. The BfV's actions, timed to sabotage the AfD's electoral gains, are a power grab disguised as protection. If democracy means anything, it's the right to choose, even when the choices are uncomfortable. Let the people decide—before the EU turns Germany into a puppet state, or at least, more than it already is.
"The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been declared "definitely right-wing extremist," by the powerful domestic spy agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). The party is reacting with outrage.
The BfV claims that the party is pursuing efforts against the "free democratic order," which the agency now says is "certain."
Previously, the party was only declared as a "suspected case," with this new designation paving the way for not only a ban but also mass surveillance of the entire party, including all its members. With this new designation, the BfV can surveil members, including their emails, phone calls, and chats, without a warrant. In addition, the BfV can now legally infiltrate the entire party with informants and use other spy techniques.
Already, other parts of the AfD at the state level were classified as "definitely right-wing extremist," but the new designation now applies this label to the entire national party.
The party is reacting with outrage, with Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the party, writing:
"The decision of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is a severe blow to German democracy!"
Regarding the statement by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, AfD federal spokespersons Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said:
Today's decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is a severe blow to German democracy: In current polls, the AfD is the strongest force. The federal government only has four days left in office, the intelligence agency doesn't even have a president anymore. And the classification as a so-called suspected case is not yet legally binding.
Nevertheless, the AfD, as an opposition party, is now being publicly discredited and criminalized shortly before the change of government. The associated, targeted interference in the democratic decision-making process is therefore clearly politically motivated. The AfD will continue to defend itself legally against these defamations that endanger democracy."
The BfV, however, is attempting to justify its decision, which will be seen by many as an attack on the country's largest opposition party.
Due to the "extremist character of the entire party, which disregards human dignity," the BfV noted in its statement. Vice presidents of the authority, Sinan Selen and Silke Willems, further indicated that statements and positions of the party "violate the principle of human dignity."
One of the key factors that the BfV is attempting to use to justify the designation is the AfD's alleged position on "ethnic Germans."
"The ethnic-descendant understanding of the people prevailing in the party is not compatible with the free democratic basic order," reads the statement from the BfV. "The AfD, for example, does not consider German citizens with a migration history from predominantly Muslim countries to be equal members of the German people, as ethnically defined by the party."
The BfV, which has been led by a Christian Democrat for years who was rabidly opposed to the AfD, a rival party, further writes: "The BfV reached this conclusion after an intensive and comprehensive expert review. Following its statutory mandate, the BfV was required to assess the party's actions against the central fundamental principles of the constitution: human dignity, the principle of democracy, and the rule of law. In doing so, in addition to the federal party's platform and statements, the statements and other behavior of its representatives, as well as their connections to right-wing extremist actors and groups, were examined in particular."
The BfV is no longer led by Thomas Haldenwang (CDU), but here he is discussing the AfD during his tenure. Haldenwang gave up his position to run as an MP but he lost his seat.
The news comes at a time when the AfD is the number one party in the country, according to national polls, a position it has achieved for the first time. As the party surges, its democratic rivals are becoming increasingly concerned, prompting calls for a ban from not only the left, but also the traditional "center-right," which has shifted more and more to the left over the years.
Ban procedure can now move forwardThe latest designation was a key plan in the move to ban the party, with many so-called "moderates" waiting for the BfV designation to move forward with a vote to ban the party.
However, there is no sign yet of how a ban will move forward, with many in the CDU skeptical about banning the most popular party in the country, along with some from the left as well.
Previous attempts to ban the far-right NPD, which took some notably extremist stances, were unsuccessful, with the top court arguing that the party was not large enough to represent a serious threat to the democratic order. There were also questions about the excessive number of informants, making it difficult to ascertain how much of the extremism in the party was due to informants versus the party's own members.
However, the AfD, in contrast, is not only popular but is now the most popular party in the country.
Emil Sänze, the AfD leader in the state association of AfD leader Alice Weidel, said this was a deliberate attempt to weaken the largest opposition party. He told Bild, "This is outrageous. A purely political decision in the run-up to the chancellor election on May 6."
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