Germany’s internal spy agency, BfV, has declared the far-right, neo-Nazi party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an “extremist” entity.

In the 2025 German elections, the AfD came second with 20.8 per cent vote and 152 of 630 seats. Polls have shown that the AfD has risen in popularity in the weeks since the elections were held.

Over the past decade, the AfD has emerged as a leading political force on the back of its anti-immigrant and isolationist platform in reaction to Germany’s migration, economic, and security crises. While even mainstream parties have started addressing these issues in recent years, what sets apart AfD apart is the party’s association with the neo-Nazi movement in Europe. Some of the leading members of the party have overt affiliation with the movement.

While the designation allows the authorities to keep a track of AfD’s extremist activities more closely, it is also expected to fuel further support for the party as the party is bound to play the victim card and claim suppression at the hand of Germany’s political mainstream.