Nearly half of Germans support banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party following its designation as an “extremist” group by the nation’s domestic intelligence agency, according to a recent poll.
The Insa institute for Bild am Sonntag found that 48% of Germans support banning the Afd altogether, while 37% oppose such a move and 15% remain undecided.
The poll also showed that 61% of Germans already regard the Afd as a “right-wing extremist” party.
And 79% of respondents said the agency’s classification did not change their view of the party, suggesting deeply entrenched public attitudes.
The party’s rise in popularity, reaching 26% in recent surveys, has made it Germany’s leading political force.
Its surge is largely attributed to anti-immigration campaigning, fearmongering about Muslims, and public disillusionment with mainstream parties amid economic uncertainty.
The poll comes after Germany’s intelligence agency officially classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (Afd) party as a “proven extremist group,” intensifying debate over the party’s legality and future role in the country’s politics.
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The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bfv) announced the designation following a three-year investigation, citing that the Afd pursues a far-right nationalist and anti-democratic agenda.
The agency concluded that the party’s ethnic-based understanding of citizenship and exclusionary rhetoric, particularly targeting Muslims and migrants, undermines Germany’s democratic constitutional order.
Previously, only regional Afd branches in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt were labelled as extremist. The new decision extends the classification to the entire party, allowing expanded surveillance powers, including communication monitoring and informant deployment.
In response, Afd co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla denounced the move as a “severe blow to German democracy,” pledging to mount a legal challenge.
“The Afd will continue to defend itself legally against these democracy-endangering defamations,” they said. They also questioned the legitimacy of the timing, noting the government’s impending transition and absence of a sitting Bfv president.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged caution against pushing for an outright ban. He reminded the public that such decisions lie with the Constitutional Court, which requires extensive legal preparation. Previous efforts to outlaw far-right parties like the NPD failed due to informant involvement or lack of evidence.
Internationally, the move sparked criticism. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Germany’s actions, writing on X: “That’s not democracy — it’s tyranny in disguise.” He accused Berlin of using intelligence powers to silence opposition and claimed the Afd simply opposed “deadly open border immigration policies.”
Germany’s Foreign Office rebuffed Rubio, stating: “This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation.” It clarified that courts — not intelligence agencies — have the final say, affirming Germany’s commitment to legal due process and historical responsibility in combating right-wing extremism.
