Germany's AfD party ruled potential threat to democracy | DW News

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has lost a court appeal against its classification as a "suspected" far-right extremist organization.
The judges at the court in the west German city of Münster said the designation was appropriate and did not violate the constitution or European law.
The status makes it easier for the domestic intelligence agency BfV to investigate and surveil AfD members or recruit informants from within the organization.
"The court finds there is sufficient evidence that the AfD pursues goals that run against the human dignity of certain groups and against democracy," the judges said.
"There are grounds to suspect at least part of the party wants to accord second-rank status to German citizens with a migration background."
The AfD can still appeal the classification at another court.
The far-right party is topping opinion polls in several eastern states that are due to hold elections later this year. It is also polling nationally at around 20% amid high dissatisfaction with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition.
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#afd #afdruling #germanelections

[@Alexander.S.L]

right before the Europe elections. What a coincidence

[@gtrdxz]

All according to plan

[@yte549]

Crackdown on opposition party and still claim Germany is democratic lol😂😂😂😂😂

[@231rosslyn]

You probably didn't hear the report.

[@yte549]

@@231rosslyn report is just Hypocrisy to find excuse to ban an opposition party just before the election.... But the real threat of democracy is Shariah which is slowly dominating across the Europe... What can you do for that

[@Mandingobull]

Exactly the definition of communism

[@231rosslyn]

@@Mandingobull Obviously, you know nothing about the definition of communism. Do some reading.

[@everypitchcounts4875]

It means the way left is trying to hold onto power by any means necessary.

[@yte549]

Islam is also a party, which will dominate soon 😂😂😂😂 you are still sleeping

[@1mnyenaphar727]

But Islamophobia is the second most popular party ""right now""!!

[@yte549]

@@1mnyenaphar727 when fact is raisen then victim card is the answer... It won't work more....

[@marcq2029]

Second most popular party in Germany, that says alot

[@TheRealBlueValhalla]

What's it say?

[@saba1030]

Only by survays...doesn't mean anything...

[@zollen123]

There are many Germans whose are not happy with the current economic situation, the current political establishment and probably even democracy itself.

[@cmd7930]

@@saba1030far right is winning everywhere in Europe so polls are mostly correct

[@koach7779]

Well, there are plenty of very similar political parties/figures who seem to fall into similar brackets. *Cough* *Cough* MAGA *cough* *cough*

[@lorenzofalorni3961]

You have the wrong political opinions? No human rights for you

[@231rosslyn]

Wrong? More accurately, anti constitutional . The correspondent explains this quite aptly.

[@libshastra]

@@231rosslynit is still very anti democratic. And Germany has the gall to lecture others about democracy.

[@231rosslyn]

@@libshastra Obviously, the court in Germany disagrees with you. To me, it's not surprising, when democracy is under threat, it has to be defended.

[@Mandingobull]

@@231rosslyn Germany’s democracy isn’t under threat. The socialists just don’t want the free money and benefits to keep coming.

[@anthemsofeurope2408]

@@231rosslyn There is no constitution in Germany

[@seanphurley]

This is not liberal

[@natep6101]

Treating everyone equally is a feature of a liberal society. So you have a point. They should have used the existing laws of police powers to investigate them without this court weighing in. They wouldn’t have a trial like this before investigating the mob. I guess the current government just wanted to make sure they were acting appropriately due to the nature of the group under investigation.

[@gtrdxz]

Of course its not, liberalism is trying to transform into marxism.

[@JLeonSarmiento]

Who would have thought that the open right wing extremist AfD party was an open right wing extremist party after all?

[@hzlh2254]

​@@Klote3241they get money from russia

[@Klote3241]

@@hzlh2254 Thats something bad yes. but that is not the reason why they started this surveillance... if that is the reason then they should have said foreign state fraud/meddling.

[@RuLeZ1988]

Its time, that its official now in the court.

[@wasntme777]

it is not.

[@Hereford1642]

@@hzlh2254 They used the same smear on National Rally in France. The details were that French banks refused loans for their election campaigns so they had to go abroad. Post election the party would receive public money depending on the % of vote received and that has not actually been a problem. It is an orchestrated campaign by the powers that be to keep things they way they like them.

[@abhigoel3619]

lol crackdown on opposition seems to be a problem plaguing Germany. Who uses intelligence on a political party.

[@1112viggo]

I am by no means a far-anything BUT i do consider it ironic, that as the afd party rise in popularity and are closing in on the most popular party in Germany, they are called a "threat to democracy". Like, you can't just suddenly dismiss a quarter of the electorate by calling the party they choose to vote for "undemocratic" they are voted in just like everyone else, if you don't like it your job as a politician is to convince people to vote someone else in next time. Not try to use the law to remove them as political competition. That would no doubt only strengthen their support anyway, and galvanize those who already do.

[@231rosslyn]

Not ironic at all. As fringe party, they didn't represent danger. Regardless of their ideology. Now, as they are bigger, the threat grows - simple logic.

[@zvonkobogdan9634]

@@231rosslyn Threat to establishment and wamongers. We understand

[@tubebrocoli]

The AfD is fascist. Eliminationist ideologies shouldn't be treated like ones that actually want to debate, it's like trying to play a game of chess against a pigeon, as the saying goes. There is always going to be a hateful minority that's only interested in power.

[@MrDisasterboy]

Its about some members, not necessarily all their supporters. Quite a few of their candidates have come from other smaller farther right parties.

[@1112viggo]

@@231rosslyn What threat? They are as powerful as their support in the population allow them, no more, no less. That's the essence of democracy. If you remove a popular party because they are too popular and thus "dangerous" then that's the definition of tyranny, regardless of their ideology.

[@jdubwill71]

Democracy is a threat when we don't like the party 😂

[@tombranch2261]

When the party in question adheres to an ideology that is the antithesis of democracy.

[@pancakes3250]

@@tombranch2261 That too, but not the reason, democracy under threat slogan, is currently used. It is to suppress the rivals when desperate. I will accept the ruling, i choose to believe AFD has anti-democratic intentions, however, same is probably true for everyone. I am sure, this ruling and this case wasnt the system properly working, but the opposition using mechanisms of government to suppress their rivals. This will backfire badly, since, at least a perceived hypocrisy. Wont be worth it, but if those involved, would do act alternatively, the disaster might be worse.

[@bjorndebar8361]

Democracy has the right to defend itself against anti-democrats and right-wing radicals. We are a defensive democracy, I know that it would be a dream for the AFD if we were not defensive.

[@pancakes3250]

@@bjorndebar8361 Democracy is to allow anything if a majority. Including the end of democracy.

[@yasminesteinbauer8565]

That is not what a court judges. It is whether a party complies with the law and the constitution.

[@oskarfjortoft]

"Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." -Winston Churchill

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

False quote. Winston Churchill never said that. The actual quote is "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist. Source: The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress, Vol. I, Reason in Common Sense.

[@oskarfjortoft]

@@Thor.Jorgensen Real quote. He said it in a speech to the British house of commons a few years after the end of ww2.

[@oskarfjortoft]

@@Thor.Jorgensen Thor Jørgensen has no friends, and gets no bitches. - Socrates

[@kinngrimm]

Which is why this party is now under observation, which could be also seen as one step closer to it becoming forbidden should extrem ant-democratic elements within be uncovered.

[@DonaldDucksRevenge]

​@@kinngrimmPerhaps it will do for them what Trump's prosecutions have done for Trump. Enhance their mystique if anything.

[@BlueredCatalan]

If the AFD is the second most popular party then that either means a lot of Germans are "extremists" or the AFD is not a far right extremist party that you and the German establishment allege it to be.

[@MediaRepositoryHF]

Given the country's history, the former sounds more likely

[@bjorndebar8361]

The AfD only has 15% across Germany, which is a very low figure compared to other European countries when it comes to right-wing extremist parties.

[@georgeorwell3501]

It’s not far right at all. It’s just not radical far left enough for our rulers.

[@bjorndebar8361]

@@georgeorwell3501 Was für ein Blödsinn, in Deutschland gibt es keine relevante Partei die radikal links ist. Was wäre denn dann eine Kommunistische Partei für sie?

[@erikitter6773]

There is little reason to believe the we Germans would be less prone to extremism (wait, there is a historic case I could make). Education did restrict and limit it a while with quite a bit initial help from occupation (and it isn't random that the AfD strongholds are in the east, where the historic relection was even less serious [just claim you are antifascist does not make it so]), but the buffer seems to be running out and we seem to become ones more just as likely to pick the easy claims flavored with multiple scapegoats identified (or just implied, as is even better, because then even the minorities can pick one and not be told they are it) as everyone. Liberal democrarcy (and we are already back to needing remind that liberal just means individual liberties, not what the right wing makes people believe in good old 1984 manner) is not what evolution primed us for. We like to followed a perceived strong leader of us against all them, and not think critically about it but hate and fear (well, we don't like to fear, but we always gravitate towards it and answer it with hate). Liberal freedoms (and liberal democracy with proper rule of law is the only tool kit ever have worked for any prolonged time to move into the right direction) needs daily vigilent defense. With the positions AfD leadership regularly hold, just somewhat careful about going on record, the question should already not being about being allowed to watch them, but if it is time for the process to shatter the party. There were good reasons to have a high bar for it. But if you never use the defenses added to the system with the benefit of knowledge about the Weimar Republic, liberal democracy is always failing, the question not being if but only when. The fascists only need to get it wright one time. The defense on the other hand has to win x:0 for eternity.

[@y-comboomer]

Sad part is that this headline is not satire.

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

Sad part is that the people throwing their hands up and having secret meetings with Austrian Identitarians are not satirical. But even if it was, it'd be some really twisted satire.

[@kosmokritikos9299]

When a party is using the rules and order of democracy to destroy democracy from within, that is clearly undemocratic. Germans are more keenly aware of this than people of some other nations may be.

[@raisonneur682]

German democracy similar to Belorussian democracy... just to keep power!

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

At least they managed to switch leaders and political parties. From the conservative CDU/CSU to the Social Democratic SPD.

[@raisonneur682]

@@Thor.Jorgensen Any benefit harvested? Or just to pretend democracy? Are citizens opinions taken into account? If yes, why to fear of AfD?

[@GrimmGaming3000]

“We must destroy democracy to protect democracy” lol

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

The paradox of tolerance doesn't care about your feelings. We can't tolerate intolerance. If intolerance is tolerated, then there will be nothing but intolerance.

[@eksbocks9438]

​@@Thor.Jorgensen What this guy said. There's people out there who don't respect others. They want to be the "alpha male." So stopping their abuse still counts as democracy.

[@soundscape26]

Check the paradox of tolerance.

[@DonaldDucksRevenge]

​@@Thor.JorgensenIn practice this means only politics of unification and repression prevail

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

@@DonaldDucksRevenge You're free to imagine whatever you like.

[@philip.morris]

I'm learning German at the moment. Its fun.

[@terranowa2080]

Guten tag

[@Clydeb_9994]

"Second most popular party in Germany." It sounds to me that they are trying to get rid of the competition. That's not very "democratic," isn't it? Who's the real threat here?!

[@ch.k.3377]

Before its China espionage affair, the AfD was at 22% (now 15-17%), you can no longer rely on the advance figures in Germany. When election day arrives, Germans vote differently anyway.

[@Mandingobull]

Getting rid of the competition is called communism.

[@natep6101]

How is monitoring organizations suspected of crimes undemocratic? It’s called policing. The only reason they had to go to the courts to start monitoring was because of the nature of the party. The courts made their ruling. Tada - democracy.

[@Mandingobull]

Censorship and banning the opposition is comm u nism.

[@Mandingobull]

Banning the opposition is called communism.

[@ISpieleUndMehrDE]

As far as I can tell the ruling did not declare them a threat to democracy but only ruled that the department of protection of the constitution ("Verfassungsschutz") may declare them as such. Or am I mistaken? To use the weird smoke alarm analogy: they didn't rule that the smoke alarm is correct, as they specifically said that you don't just get rid of a smoke alarm becaude of a false alarm...

[@elmo430o]

Suspected "far right extremist" means you oppose fascist liberals. At least that's the American definition.

[@frankstollar8492]

fascist liberal is an oxymoron

[@natep6101]

frankstollar8492 - this is what we’re dealing with.

[@Kim-J312]

I'm in the US , they call them radical leftists sometimes label them a threat to democracy by the maga ( the orange jesus) party.

[@AlexV6]

@@frankstollar8492 Yes, it is. But it's the only proper way of referring to them. There's nothing liberal in modern liberals, since they constantly try to impose more and more totalitarian ways to crack down on the opposition.

[@bekken971]

@@frankstollar8492 Please, fasicism is based on socialism.

[@menschin2]

If tomorrow were election day, what would you vote for, source Insa on 10.05.24 CDU 30%, AFD 17% SPD 15% Grüne 13% BSW 7% FDP 5% Linke 4% Freie Wähler 2% Sonstige 7%

[@augustiner3821]

has changed, CDU 32%, SPD 16%, AfD 15%.

​@@augustiner3821 That is the average out of all the different institutes, sone are extremely delusional. No way the SPD rises 4% over a week put of nowhere when they are at an all time low in popularity and their chancellor is literally the most dissliked head of state in all western countries

[@PaulLiviu]

This is call democraty by the greens 🤮

[@natep6101]

Actually, it’s called police powers by everyone.

[@danielpicassomunoz2752]

R they doing the same for those who explicitly call for Shaira and caliphate? That's no doubt a risk of the nature they mentioned

[@soundscape26]

How many people are calling for a caliphate in Germany and much power do they even hold?

[@niclaswenzel8689]

which party calls for a caliphate?

[@lukefleetwood7958]

@@niclaswenzel8689 Here in the UK, the Greens. Probably yours too.

[@endlessendless2391]

Greens are socialist. They will never call for religious caliphate or whatever.

[@christopherstein2024]

@@soundscape26 Thousands and there is little being done agaist them. We Germans don't want to wait before they get powerful. The moderate parties don't care and journalists support the islamists. So it's free real estate for the alt right.

[@VioAdri83]

problem is the people, not the party.

[@ottovonbismarck1352]

What is an organization if not the people who inhabit it, who control it, who manage it, who contribute to it, etc.

[@kosmokritikos9299]

Das Problem ist beides.

[@kosmokritikos9299]

@@ottovonbismarck1352 You seem to be confusing party and voters. They are not the same thing. It is clear that the word "people" in the comment refers to the voters and not the people inside of the party structure.

[@goodasgold2012]

State of society today.

[@AaronfromEngland1989]

Far left

[@arlenreinstein9907]

The failure of the ruling class , to address the pressing problems of the people.....housing, cost of living, jobs, education, health care

[@marshalllapenta7656]

Interesting.....

[@srve1149]

Here we go, Rusia, Rusia, RUssia...

[@shutup2751]

neo-liberals in power for decades talking about the importance of democracy, the irony 😂

[@960john]

"neo-liberals" and Europe is a paradox. Euro-zone is a social democracy/welfare state (not very capitalist) and liberalism is the foundation of civil rights. You don't know what you're talking about.

[@abhi739]

@@960john If liberalism was human right it wont have the power to ban the second most popular party, you got selective bias, nothing to do with facts

[@960john]

@@abhi739 Facts? That party was not banned, just put under surveillance. And if a party is against constitution, of course it can be banned.

[@abhi739]

@@960john expanding litigations is preface of a ban, any constitution that curtails peoples right to chose needs to change

[@NeostormXLMAX]

@@960johnliberalism is not socialist lmao, they are explicitly their own ideology, enlightened western chauvinism

[@cmlmonstar007]

Good thing Frauke Petry left that party.

[@Oiiii794]

Also our military which we appreciate will undertake the same we appreciate our friends and we need to have the feel save on freedom and association.

[@arlenreinstein9907]

Judge 😂

[@Someonesaidthis]

Wowza, politicans acting against these parties or groups are a little slow

[@nelsonbartsch1449]

Faaaar right Faaaar left Faaar right Faaar left... it reminds me the song Sunset Sunrise from Fiedler on the roof movie... and I am getting older listening to that...

[@rudycarv2197]

Let the people decide which party is better for them. Behaving like Biden going after Trump. HYPOCRITES

[@madamcurie-yg5sr]

Biden isn't going after Trump and many of the cases against Trump are at the state for which the Feds have no control over. Trump just thought he was above the law. Just look how often he has been sued prior to politics 😉

[@jarnodatema]

Clickbait with the girl on the thumbnail

[@Oiiii794]

As always am apolitical it runs in the runs in my roots.

[@anakinskywalkerii4350]

The German AFD will be on its best behaviour till it comes to power. The left and the center has to address the issues that is driving voters to parties like the AFD. Move to the center a bit. I am a left leaning person. I would rather see slow reform on social matters than have the AFD like party become a legitimate force on issues that are clearly social landlines - immigration being one of them.

[@herdiantobasudewo6133]

So much for 'democracy'...

[@natep6101]

There are police powers in a democracy. Because of the nature of the group the courts looked at the evidence before the investigation began and found that the police should investigate.

[@olorin4317]

No person or party has the right to intentionally undermine democracy for the rest.

[@kimwit1307]

A democracy has the right and duty to defend itself against undemocratic powers after all.

[@abhi739]

@@kimwit1307 The nation that practises fascism to protect democracy isnt a democracy

[@lukei6255]

It looks like the ruling party and government is doing exactly that

[@kimwit1307]

@@lukei6255 On the contrary.

[@imanuelgarayar]

So democracy is just a political system rather than the rule of the people, right?

[@benwindbag]

Some things never change... except names. The surveillance of Germans by other Germans is no longer headed by the Gestapo or the Stasi. Way to go, Germany! It sure is difficult to get rid of old atavistic behaviours? Right?

[@christopherstein2024]

Are you murican?

[@cha71195]

Austria..Italy..Germany...it's looks like history seems to repeat.

[@user-pn2lk6eb4u]

How has the Italian prime minister been a problem? Seems to me the ruling class in Europe is upset they are losing popularity and power.

[@philipdurling1964]

The rise of the extreme right is often caused by the failures of the Liberal Left.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

What has Austria to do with that?

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

Austria was never voluntarily under a fascist leadership. They were invaded in 1938.

[@Stevekpb]

@@user-pn2lk6eb4u Yeah because the cattle are easily led by far right parties that just tell them what they want to hear, rather than provide actual results.

[@angieleemans8316]

It means this party has majority right? Otherwise why bother taking them to court?

[@frankstollar8492]

15% by the latest poll

[@ch.k.3377]

It is currently at 15%, the CDU at 30%. In Germany you need 50%+1 to form a government. therefore, parties must form coalitions with other parties.

[@klaushoegerl1187]

No one was taking them to court. The party filed a suit.

[@engineeranonymous]

Good AfD needs a push. Some people are beginning to suspect AfD will not change status quo. The best way to fight extremism left or right is to make your country prosperous, not banning people that will be a threat to your way of thinking.

[@revolutionarydefeatism]

The important part of the bourgeoisie decided to go the way they did in the 1930s!

[@erikitter6773]

True. But I have not that much trust in the historical reflection or wisdom, let alone ad hoc analytical skills of heirs to be aware that liberal democracy is their best bet in the mid an long term, too. The BRD has much more defense mechanisms than the Weimar Republic had, but I think we need to sharpen them still significantly -- especially against foreign actors (that would be Russia and China, the U.S. is very active but not against the FDGO [though if improvements would make us more robust against them, too, that would be a nice extra benefit]) trying to exploit the remaining weaknesses.

[@toocool711]

Democrazy 😃

[@leavesinautumn5959]

The current coalition is better, but not by much. Seems to me it's a choice between bad and worse, with no "good" option (as far as democracy and civil rights go).

[@user-pn2lk6eb4u]

Yeah policing your political rivals like this is a bad look. Especially under the pretense of "protecting democracy"

[@user-pn2lk6eb4u]

​@Letsthinkaboutit-mb7nn Is it the goal of the whole party? or are there just a few bad eggs? Everyone panicked about the Italian prime minister but she turned out fine.

[@user-pn2lk6eb4u]

​@Letsthinkaboutit-mb7nn ​ So you are telling me the majority of the party wants to do away with elections? Should far left parties also be considered a threat since they have communists? In regards to Meloni, whatever your opinion of her policies is she is definitely not a "threat to democracy" as she was initially painted by the left.

[@user-pn2lk6eb4u]

​@Letsthinkaboutit-mb7nn My point is that "threat to democracy" seems to be used to demonize anyone on the right. The only true threat to democracy on the right that I've seen is Trump, and that's because he is a narcissist that can't accept he lost.

[@leavesinautumn5959]

@Letsthinkaboutit-mb7nn No, he's not trying to overthrow democracy outright, but he _is_ undermining it in many fundamental and hard to reverse ways. If the result is the same, whether he just bungled into it because he couldn't see past his nose, or actively sought out that result is irrelevant.

[@MutantMax-dh6pu]

Trump knew it Left courts be like :

[@moniho6907]

Are they like the maga party?

[@ch.k.3377]

MAGA would be the ethnonationalist wing of the AfD.

[@disme2072]

WoW thats so wrong! Doing the same thing in the U.S.

[@randyraudi7725]

Never compare Germany with this lying country again.

[@bekken971]

Genau!

[@lt8395]

hahahahahahahaahahah

[@Magnus_Mundus]

Wow this comment section is something else 😂 No substance, just hostility. Hate doesn't get you anywhere but to a bitter taste in your mouth everytime you encounter anyone, who is different from you. Don't let hate contaminate your brain ❤ get well, people

[@RudolphoAqui]

So true, there are paid agitators who only comment too agitate

[@91Kred]

Maybe loving your own ethnic group and not wanting it to be submerged which means losing your independence with all the risk that entails isn't hate but righteous anger. Maybe instead of accusing them of hate and hating them we should listen rather than shout them down

[@Magnus_Mundus]

@@91Kred i don't see anything righteous about this anger, just some bitter children, who are confused that non-whites even live on the same planet as them. Serenety, my friend. The world is a bright and colourful place. And you are part of it 😘

[@91Kred]

@@Magnus_Mundus if you can't beat them in a rational argument then infantilize and patronize them, well done! I think if one came down from the high cloud and listen to these 'children' one might find what they say is quite profound and fair. They are happy to share the planet with non-whites but it seems that some of the later forget that Germany is their small corner and they want to be left alone in peace

[@Magnus_Mundus]

@@91Kred You want your concerns to be taken seriously. I understand that. But if you think that the concerns of white Germans without a migration background are no longer being taken into account, I must remind you that around 90% of all members of the Bundestag do not have a migration background. We white people are represented with absolute certainty. And about this Being Left in Peace story: Even a few years ago, Great Britain no longer wanted anything to do with the outside world. And it didn't do them any good. Germany cannot isolate itself. Not only would that be self-destructive, it is also a physical impossibility.

[@mor9361]

And what would you call islam? it is not even democracy 😂😂😂

[@nigelgarrett7970]

Is Islam a political party? When was the last time you voted to elect the Pope?

[@divisiona3974]

Religion has NO PLACE in politics. And you can't compare the election of the pope to anything in this discussion.

[@Magnus_Mundus]

I think, you're just hoping for relief in your bitter brain by hating everyone who's different from you. No substance, just hostility.

[@9and7]

@@nigelgarrett7970 Do they at least have an election? That's his point.

[@phoenix5054]

So is Christianity.

[@GeigerFarm]

A tragic but necessary step. It’s just where we are politically. At any given time, 30% of the electorate is f&@$”&!)? crazy. The issue becomes a state matter when this faction collaborates with foreign malign actors😕👍🏻

[@leannevandekew1996]

They're Natzis.

[@wasntme777]

no they are not

[@leannevandekew1996]

@@wasntme777 When comedy writes itself.

[@Hereford1642]

Who do you think they intend to invade first?

[@leannevandekew1996]

@@wasntme777 Liking own comment is most glorious sign of fragile mind. Not mobilized because of weak mind.

[@leannevandekew1996]

@@wasntme777 One in being subscriber, is most not in being you?

[@olorin4317]

Always so much fun to find the approved words that won’t make the comment go bye bye in this digital dystopia.

[@Klote3241]

Courts shouldnt want to meddle with political parties unless they are a direct threat to the nation. To me it seems this is WAY overboard. The AfD doesnt even come close to something like the NSDAP. I dont agree with extremism but this is pretty extremist by the German court system honestly.

[@wasntme777]

the judges do as those in government tell them to do. That is how they get the job in the first place. Same what happened in 1933 is what those Parties in Germany are doing right now. Take out the opposition so they can change G into a Dictatorship. Those parties are all extreme left and green now, so people in the middle have only AfD to chose if they do not want the Country and their lives ruled by dictators. If you have 2 parties and they are the same just different names, you have a problem.

[@SirAlric82]

There's an important election coming and AfD is doing well in the polls. Se the left smearing machine is working at max power to try to dissuade people from voting AfD. That's what they always do in every country, when they are afraid to lose they start claiming that "democracy is in peril" and the other side is "fascist".

[@fritzraake22]

Wehret den Anfaengen!

[@patrickstar686]

Well it's not like the party got outlawed or anything...

[@Klote3241]

@@patrickstar686 No but surveillance is already a major breach and sets a precedent for courts to meddle in politics. You can surveil individuals for their *ACTIONS* sure. but to surveil an entire group of people on suspicion and not actions is in my opinion a total breach of privacy and Trias Politica. and honestly the AfD dont meet the criteria for it if its only based on the matter for extremism (They are using SUSPICION as a reason to surveil). The majority of that political party is not extremist. Or then Die Linke would also qualify for surveillance. If there are other reasons like for instance foreign interference and treasonous behavior then that would change everything but thats not reason why the judges ordered the surveillance.

[@everypitchcounts4875]

Hey Germany stop censoring my first amendment right. I know Germany doesn't have a first amendment right but here in the United States of America I do have a first amendment right.

[@90taetaeya]

Considering this is Germany, I’m worried.

[@Gnashercide]

Im not

[@itmanager1449]

Doing the SAME thing in the USA.

[@tandoori_naan_]

No freedom of expression ey?

[@philipdurling1964]

I wouldn't describe the AfD as being "far right." Conservatives or Center Right might be better.

[@wasntme777]

correct

[@Salara2130]

Leading figures what to kick people with an immigrantion background with a german passport out of germany. How is that not far right?

[@lagomeralover4368]

The AFD is not konservative ! The AFD is a far right fascist party !

[@quantumfairing2216]

You have to be pretty exstreme to say that a party that want's to deport all non ethical Germans and have close ties to the most extreme far right groups all over Europe and Russia, is a central right party.

[@leonardoschiavelli6478]

​@@lagomeralover4368🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@andrewschmitz9756]

Everybody i dont agree with is a right wing extremist 😅

[@bekken971]

Sounds familiar, eh?

[@Robespierres_Ghost]

Silence your political opponents when their words are too inconvenient.

[@erikitter6773]

That would make a little sense if this was about a Verbotsverfahren. But it is about just not telling the services that they cannot document the AfD's fight to dissolve German liberal democracy in favor of their blend of fascism.

[@MrDisasterboy]

The court did not silence them. It just allowed the police to surveil it for extremists. Scary, but some of the things some of its politicians have said are indeed concerning.

[@eksbocks9438]

​​@@erikitter6773 Pretty much. Don't fall for this Americanized version of "free speech." Because it's way too permissive of bullying, misinformation, and abuse. Meaning ordinary people lose their rights. Because of pressure from more radicalized (and well-funded) people.

[@NicolasHaufe]

​@@MrDisasterboywhat for example?

[@leeoswald9799]

Alles fur Deutschland

[@user-gl9tt8ps4f]

hey dw.. it's better turned off your comment section instead Dictating and showing your propogenda comments only😁

[@patrickstar686]

It's KZbin not DW. You probably said a blacklisted word. Try replacing some letters of bad words to make it pass.

[@patrickstar686]

@@user-gl9tt8ps4f everyone hates the rules but we get what we get...

[@squireson]

Whats to explain ? Extremist views are popular in Germany, they're popular in America today, as well.

[@eksbocks9438]

The only difference is Germany is keeping a lid on it. In America, they arm the crazies with the best tools and call it "Free Speech."

[@glockmat]

Maybe labelling a party whose whole schtick is "anti-establishment" as anti democratic is a way to kill the party and keep the establishment?

[@DonaldDucksRevenge]

They're not extremist at all, but completely mainstream outside political circles

[@mariavos1998]

😂 woke judges

[@TheRealBlueValhalla]

Notsea can't handle it

[@emanueledes7]

AfD WILL BE BANNED. Neonazis inside it jailed.

[@ecomandurban7183]

the judges are controlled by the political parties that are in power

[@soundscape26]

I'm sure they'll be gutted by your accusation.

[@user-jk6ed9ux1t]

Far right? How?

[@Hereford1642]

You know. Anyone who is not keen on large scale immigration is far right. That is all it takes.

[@Salara2130]

Listen to leading figures talking about maintaining an ethnostate.

[@Hereford1642]

@@Salara2130 London now has a majority of foreign born people. Is that a good thing ?

[@Hereford1642]

@@Salara2130 London is majority foreign born. Is that a good thing in your estimation?

[@erikitter6773]

While "right" and "left" have some category problems: „Und diese dämliche Bewältigungspolitik, die lähmt uns heute noch viel mehr als zu Franz Josef Strauß’ Zeiten. Wir brauchen nichts anderes als erinnerungspolitische Wende um 180 Grad!“ (Höcke) So what could this 180 degrees mean, even if you'd aggree to do less or something like that? Of course that is only one of many just from him and in public, supported by others, and pretty much every time we get a non-public medium their leadership used believing it would not become public (which after all is the reason the Verfassungsschutz will keep observing).

[@swedichboy1000]

In the words of JC Denton; Some people just don't understand the dangers of indiscriminate surveillance.

[@agungprasetyo2665]

Freedom they said.. democracies they said.. 😂

[@leonardoschiavelli6478]

DW deleted my previous comment, so they're giving the reason to me. Truth is always PAINFUL. 😇

[@terranowa2080]

Unconditional right to stop our own life whenever we want medically. My body my choice. Freedom

[@thomasridenour277]

Sounds like something that America would do. I though Germany was a more mature democracy post WWII.

[@yasminesteinbauer8565]

It is precisely because Germany has learned its lesson that it is keeping an eye on extremist parties.

[@German_Patriot1]

The point is most AFD voters aren’t right. Furthermore the AFD is in Germany a extremist right party but in comparison to Turkey or other countries with different parties it’s a moderate party

[@OnkyoGrady]

Yeah you've got that exactly backwards.

[@yasminesteinbauer8565]

@@German_Patriot1 A party that displays nationalism, xenophobia, has contacts with far-right groups and subscribes to all kinds of conspiracy theories is anything but moderate. You can forget your attempts at relativization and trivialization.

[@ShankarSivarajan]

Did you really think that?

[@NorthernReaper]

Bs. You are creating worse with this.

[@drownlolz4434]

AfD💙💙💙 Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Alice Weidel

[@yasminesteinbauer8565]

The bra looks good on you.

[@williamjohansson1963]

Ruling a political party a threat to democracy is itself inherently undemocratic, and itself a threat to democracy. This would be the stupidest move possible, cause it only proves the point of the party to its electorate even more.

[@frankstollar8492]

Read about the tolerance of intolerance. Then you may be able to have an informed opinion.

[@OnkyoGrady]

You guys are terrible at politics. Im not even saying this as a right winger, I'm pretty damn liberal, but it's blatantly obvious this will have the exact opposite effect as intended.

[@frankstollar8492]

please tell us more of your ignorance.

[@TahmKench4life]

🇷🇺🤜🏼🇺🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧🇪🇺🇦🇺🇨🇦🇯🇵🇵🇭🇹🇼

[@mainStream-user]

Ok comrade

[@Rob-el8ti]

I know nothing about whats going on in Germany, but i wonder if its similar to the uk anything thats not leftist or pro hamas or trans or blm then well its far right, but 2nd most popular party in Germany

[@frankstollar8492]

Lol the Tories are as far right as the AfD just not directly arguing to undermine democracy

[@Rob-el8ti]

@frankstollar8492 hahaha so the German party ain't far right then as tories have shown to be pretty left leaning and weak when it comes to these pro hamas loons

[@clauslauman8405]

It is.

[@SithStudy]

@@frankstollar8492 ? the Tories let hundreds of boatmen enter England daily

[@auromira8840]

It's rulings germany lie😂

[@arlenreinstein9907]

Judge 😂