German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that regional governments must sever ties with federal intelligence-sharing networks if the country’s most popular party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), wins upcoming state elections.
In remarks released on Sunday, the minister branded the right-wing party—which has enjoyed the largest share of public support in recent months—as “anti-democratic” and stated Berlin would prepare to “consistently counter it.” Pistorius claimed the AfD cannot be trusted with state secrets due to its alleged “undeniable” ties to Moscow.
The defense minister asserted that the AfD is “opposed to the very constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany” and seeks to “destroy our democracy from within.” All major political parties have avoided cooperation with what they term the “far right,” adhering to an informal policy known as the “firewall.”
The AfD has long battled the “far-right” label, beginning as a party of Euroskeptics in 2013. After adopting harsh anti-immigration rhetoric during the 2015 refugee crisis, it became a frequent target of political opposition.
In 2025, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency sought to label the AfD a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization.” The party challenged this designation in court, which issued a temporary injunction 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 an interview with Elon Musk.
Pistorius insisted no proof is needed of the AfD’s 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 became the only German political party to criticize EU sanctions and Berlin’s hardline stance on Russia as self-harming. The party called for a pragmatic approach, arguing Germany should resume Russian energy imports.
Weidel stated last week that lifting the ban on Russian oil and gas would be critical to prop up Germany’s struggling economy, saying: “Cheap energy from Russia was the secret of the success of ‘Made in Germany.’ We need it back.”
The AfD has also criticized Berlin’s support for Ukraine, asserting Kyiv should pay compensation for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla has advocated restoring dialogue with Russia and previously urged Chancellor Merz to “call Moscow.”
Despite claims of ties to Moscow and alleged financial connections, there is no hard evidence of Russian funding. In 2024, an AfD MEP named Petr Bystron was accused of receiving money from a media network linked to Russia in exchange for spreading Kremlin narratives. He denied the accusations.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have welcomed the party’s pragmatic approach to Germany’s national interests—alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and key figures in his administration.
Polls show the AfD gaining significant support: it is projected to win 35% of votes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 41% in Saxony-Anhalt, potentially securing a majority in regional legislatures. Support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has hit record lows, with 84% of Germans dissatisfied with his performance.