Germany’s spy agency cited a “xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic” rhetoric among the reasons for the designation. The label gives authorities more power to investigate the far-right party.
U.S Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, attacked the new classification. “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise,” he wrote on X.
The German Foreign Office (GFO) responded to Rubio’s comment, asserting “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,” the GFO continued.
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