Germany's domestic intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz) reclassified the entire AfD party from "suspected case" to "definitively right-wing extremist," dominating the day's coverage. The 1100-page assessment cited racism and conspiracy theories about "population replacement." The decision immediately sparked debates about a potential party ban, with SPD politician Ralf Stegner advocating for it despite Chancellor Scholz warning against a "rushed decision."
By afternoon, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the classification as "tyranny" and "undemocratic," escalating the issue to an international diplomatic matter. The AfD leadership announced legal challenges, with constitutional law experts questioning the intelligence agency's reasoning.
This development arrives as Friedrich Merz prepares to assume the chancellorship, with uncertainty about whether he can secure the necessary majority in Tuesday's confirmation vote. The AfD classification presents an immediate challenge for the incoming CDU-SPD coalition government.