Political scientist sees limited voter impact from AfD extremist classification in Hesse

Limited membership impact

The classification by Hesse's Verfassungsschutz as a suspected right-wing extremist case does make it harder for the AfD to recruit active and passive members, Stecker told dpa. Public association with the party carries a high risk of stigmatization, and for civil servants or public sector employees there is also a job risk.

Worn-out ritual for voters

Moreover, the effect of the classification is likely limited because the ritual has been experienced dozens of times and has become worn out.

Voters have already sorted themselves along the question of whether they find the intelligence agency's actions accurate or relevant. The classifications have not stopped the growth in AfD approval, Stecker noted.

Victim role and solidarity

The expert said the labels reinforce the AfD's victim role, "which leads and has led to solidarity effects among the population." The real collateral damage for democratic society, he argued, is that a state authority is left to evaluate in bureaucratic language whether the AfD's views are radical, extreme, or undemocratic.

The real collateral damage for democratic society is that a state authority is left to evaluate in bureaucratic language whether the AfD's views are radical, extreme, or undemocratic.

Legal status and AfD response

The Wiesbaden administrative court recently ruled that the Hessian AfD branch was correctly classified and may be monitored, but the decision is not yet final. AfD co-state spokesperson Robert Lambrou announced an appeal, arguing that isolated statements were used instead of the full picture of party statements, which he said is 99.9 percent in order.

The classification as a suspected case is not legally binding and will not be until our appeal is decided in the matter.