Court allows domestic intelligence agency to upgrade AfD Lower Saxony

The Hanover Administrative Court has decided that the domestic intelligence agency may upgrade the AfD Lower Saxony for now. The state association sought to prevent the agency from treating it as a so-called surveillance object of significant importance through an emergency motion. The court rejected this motion.

The court sees an overall picture marked by hostility to the constitution in the AfD Lower Saxony, as evident from the court's reasoning. The judges thus confirmed that the party has reached the "threshold of criminal liability." This means: the domestic intelligence agency has sufficient grounds for more intensive surveillance.

Court permits more intensive monitoring

Classification as a surveillance object of significant importance is a precursor to formal classification as extremist or hostile to the constitution. It allows the domestic intelligence agency to monitor the party more intensively and publicly report on its activities. The AfD state association can appeal the court decision and continue the legal dispute.

The decision comes during a phase of intense debate about the AfD. Several federal states are reviewing or already conducting proceedings to classify the party or its state associations. Lower Saxony is not alone in this – but today's court decision now gives the domestic intelligence agency the green light for the provisional upgrade.

Security interests weigh more heavily

The AfD had argued that such a classification violates its rights. The court did not follow this argument. Instead, it weighted the state's security interests more heavily than party rights at this stage of the proceedings.