Germany has hit back at the United States of America following criticism of the European giant’s decision to label the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party as a “confirmed rightwing extremist group”;.
Germany’s foreign ministry was reacting to the United States secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who took to X kick against the move by Germany, saying it was undemocratic.
“Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition,”; Robio tweeted.
“That’s not democracy – it’s tyranny in disguise. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD – which took second in the recent election – but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course.”;
In response, Germany said it was only defending its Constitution, insisting it has not deviated from the principles of democracy.
The ministry wrote on X, “This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law.
“It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped.”;
This comes after Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, BfV, designated the AfD as a “confirmed rightwing extremist”; force on Friday.
The BfV’s decision marks a step up from its previous designation of the country’s anti-immigrant, pro-Kremlin and largest opposition party as a “suspected”; threat to Germany’s democratic order.
