International • 10:40 • Modified at 10:40
German intelligence: AfD is far-right organization
Author : Matthijs Damsteeg
Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has labeled the political party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) a "proven far-right organization." A press release from the agency said the evidence had intensified. The party now holds 152 of the 630 seats in the German parliament. The ruling allows authorities to use more powers to investigate the party.

Local branches of the party had previously been labelled as right-wing extremist, but this was not the case for the national party. It had already been designated as a suspect case, but the Verfassungsschutz still conducted extensive investigations into the party.

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According to the service, violations of human dignity, the rule of law and the principle of democracy were decisive in the judgment. According to German media, the investigation comprises around a thousand pages and is based on current, public information about the party.

Recruiting informants
The status means that authorities will have more powers to keep an eye on the AfD. For example, it will now be allowed to recruit informants and intercept communications. The party will not be banned.

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The AfD has always considered the investigation by the service to be politically motivated. The results of the investigation were reportedly postponed to limit the influence on the February elections. The AfD is expected to appeal the decision of the service.

Party ban
In Germany, opponents of the party have been talking about a party ban for years. The ruling does not bring such a ban any closer: a ban procedure is different. The parliament, the senate or the government can submit an application to the German Federal Constitutional Court, which will then consider the matter. The last time a member of the Bundestag called for such an application, it came to nothing, there were too few supporters.