Germany: Interior Ministry orders new analysis of AfD report

The political situation in Germany changed dramatically following a ruling by the administrative court in Cologne. The court found that the use of the label "confirmed right-wing extremism" by intelligence services against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during the election campaign requires reconsideration. In response to this ruling, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt acknowledged the need to adapt the actions of the intelligence services to the court's guidelines, which necessitates a renewed analysis of the expert reports prepared by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The office now has the task of proving that its findings are based on sufficiently solid evidence to maintain the highest level of surveillance of the party. The dispute over AfD's legal status has a direct impact on public finances. The Interior Ministry decided to suspend the payment of multi-million euro subsidies to the Desiderius Erasmus Foundation, which is linked to the party. The funds are to remain blocked until constitutional doubts are clarified. Meanwhile, AfD politicians, especially in federal states such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, have gone on the counterattack, advocating for the dissolution of regional counterintelligence units. They argue that the intelligence services are being used instrumentally by the ruling parties to combat parliamentary opposition. In Germany, the banning of a political party is an extremely complicated and rare process, requiring proof before the Federal Constitutional Court that the party aims to overthrow the liberal democratic order by force or through aggressive active actions.Parallel to the legal battle over AfD's status, the Bundestag passed a significant amendment to asylum law. The new regulations involve tightening procedures and are in line with the recently adopted EU reform. The changes include, among other things, facilitating the deportation of individuals not entitled to asylum and limiting social benefits in specific cases. The debate surrounding these regulations revealed deep divisions not only between the government and the opposition but also within the ruling coalition, where liberal and conservative parties clash over the scope of restrictions. SPD representatives emphasize that despite the court ruling favorable to AfD, a potential application to ban the entire party is still not excluded and remains a political option. „Ich habe eine vertiefte Prüfung des Verfassungsschutz-Gutachtens angeordnet.” (I have ordered an in-depth review of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's expert report.) — Alexander Dobrindt

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the threat to democracy and the necessity of maintaining surveillance of AfD despite temporary legal difficulties. Conservative and right-wing media highlight the violation of state neutrality and the instrumental use of intelligence services against the opposition.