Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as 'right-wing extremist' and a threat to the democratic order. This designation empowers the BfV to intensify its surveillance of the AfD, employing measures such as phone tapping, electronic communication interception, and recruitment of informants. Public servants affiliated with the AfD face potential dismissal, and party members may lose their gun ownership rights. There are even calls to restrict the AfD's media appearances.
This heightened scrutiny could also lead to reduced public funding for the AfD, placing it at a significant disadvantage. Members of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) and some within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are advocating for a complete ban on the AfD, a proposal that has already been debated in parliament. The irony is that despite this intense pressure, the AfD remains the second-largest party in Germany.