AfD rectification procedure: Constitutional protection declares a standstill commitment | Stern.de

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BFV) no longer refers the AfD publicly as secured right -wing extremist endeavor until a court decision about an urgent procedure.

The domestic intelligence agency gave a so -called standstill commitment in the legal dispute with the AfD. A spokeswoman for the responsible administrative court of Cologne confirmed the receipt of a corresponding letter from the authority. The Federal Office did not want to publicly comment on “with a view to the ongoing procedure and for respect for the court”.

It is not the first time that the protection of the constitution makes such a promise. He had done this in January 2021 after the AfD had sued as a “suspected case” for its classification at the time. The complaint at that time was unsuccessful for the party in two instances. The judgment of the Higher Administrative Court in Münster is not yet final. However, the statement of recovery does not mean that the constitutional protectors withdraw their classification.

The recovery commitment now given by the BFV not only refers to public statements, but also means that the protection of the constitution cannot observe the AfD until a judgment as a secured extremist endeavor. However, observation as a suspected case – here the hurdle for the use of intelligence agents – may continue.

AfD boss Alice Weidel described the step as a first success for the AfD and democracy. “We will continue to act against the unjustified defamation of the AfD and are convinced that we will be successful with it,” she told the German Press Agency.

On Friday, the authority had submitted the AfD to the AfD after a year -long examination. The reason for the classification is a “extremist, extremist characteristics of the entire party,” it said. Until then, the AfD had only been guided as a suspicion. The protection of the constitution had justified its new evaluation, especially with an ethnic and parentage concept that prevails in the party. He critically sees statements from AfD officials like “every stranger in this country is one too much”.

The time before Nancy Faeser (SPD) ended as a Federal Minister of the Interior, made headlines and triggered a new debate about a possible AfD ban. Faeser emphasized that the new BFV report did not reach the ministry until April 28th. It had no influence on the content and decision of the Federal Office.

The AfD legally defends itself. It wants to have the classification forbidden. The court in Cologne is responsible because the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is based there.

Note: This article has been updated and further information was added.