Washington, D.C., May 4 (ANI): A decision by Germany to grant its intelligence services the authority to monitor opposition groups has sparked a heated exchange between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Germany’s Foreign Ministry. Rubio condemned the move, labeling it as “tyranny in disguise,” while German officials defended it as a necessary action to protect the country’s constitution and curb the rise of right-wing extremism.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Marco Rubio stated, “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. 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.”
The German Foreign Ministry quickly responded, asserting that the decision was in line with democratic principles. “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 right-wing extremism needs to be stopped,” they said.
Germany’s intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution), officially classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization. The agency released a statement outlining that the AfD’s core ideology “disregards human dignity” and its understanding of the people, based on ethnicity and descent, is incompatible with Germany’s democratic values. The agency accused the party of attempting to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, particularly targeting German citizens with a migration background from predominantly Muslim countries.
The decision to place the AfD under surveillance is part of a broader effort by Germany to counter rising far-right movements, especially following the party’s strong performance in the 2024 federal elections, where it secured second place. This shift in electoral support mirrors a growing trend of far-right politics across Europe.
According to NBC News, the AfD was already under investigation by German intelligence for alleged extremism, and Friday’s classification as a “proven right-wing extremist organization” formalized this stance. The party has attracted significant support from figures such as Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk, who have aligned themselves with its anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The AfD’s increasing influence reflects broader geopolitical shifts, with European far-right groups drawing closer to populist movements in the United States, particularly those connected to former President Donald Trump. Germany’s action, though controversial, underscores the growing concern over the rise of right-wing extremism both domestically and internationally.
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