Germany officially places far-right group under surveillance

The far-right group, Alternative for Germany (AFD) is currently on Germany’s BfV domestic intelligence suspicion list. BFV is investigating the group as a possible threat to Germany’s independence. 

The AFD, popularly known for its anti-immigration stance, is growing strong roots in Germany’s Parliament and political class. The political group has frequently been likened to the Nazi group that was responsible for the second world war. 

The group became popular because of Germany’s chancellor pro-immigration stance 

The party shot into the limelight after Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, agreed to open the country’s shores to immigrants fleeing their countries. The AFD has also been criticized by other German political parties, saying the party promotes hate towards certain ethnicities and minorities.   

BFV’s decision to put the group on a suspicion list will include monitoring the party’s meetings, actions, and its members for two years. The intelligence agency will also scrutinize its source of funding and ties to possible paramilitary groups. 

The AFD has rejected BFV’s decision to monitor the group, adding that it’s a concentrated attack on the party and its members. The parliamentary floor leader for AFD said it’s obvious that the German government plans to suspend and cripple the party’s chances of winning the upcoming elections.  

The AFD is a growing political party in Germany 

The AFD is regarded as Germany’s third-largest political party. The coronavirus pandemic reduced its popularity because most of its members opposed the lockdown restrictions that were put in place by Merkel’s government. 

There have also been rumors of fighting between the party’s members over the direction of the group. One of AFD leaders, Joerg Meuthen, has been antagonized by some members of the party because he said the AFD needs to distance itself from members that support violence against other minorities. 

The AFD will reportedly contest the BFV’s decision in court, but the intelligence agency told the court that the surveillance will not affect already elected members of the political party.