Germany’s domestic intelligence agency last week classified the largest opposition party, the AfD, as “confirmed right-wing extremist.” This has intensified debates over whether or not to ban the party.
On Friday, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was classified as “confirmed right-wing extremist” by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).
Now, there has been a first fallout: two AfD politicians and parliamentarians are not allowed to accompany Hesse’s Minister for European affairs, Manfred Pentz, on a trip to Serbia and Croatia. Pentz explained that he could not expect international partners “to sit down at the same table with representatives of a party that has been confirmed as right-wing extremist.”
Further measures also threaten the radical right-wing party: several federal states want to examine whether being a civil servant, including judges, police officers, teachers, or soldiers, is still compatible with being a member of the AfD.
Exactly this happened with the extreme right in Flanders (Belgium). They were convicted for racism and promptly refounded themselves under a new name.
Ineffectual regulation doesn’t work. There needs to be more resolve.
And where are they now?
Still being kept out of government roles, still being dangerously big. Last municipal election they got an absolute majority in one town and got included in one or two coalitions. Last Flemish elections, they were tied as the biggest party with about 25%. While the other big party is also right wing Flemish nationalist btw
The problem I see is people accepting to form coalitions with them. That is centrist (read: milder fascist) behavior.