German far-right AfD is put under surveillance

BERLIN: Germany’s BfV domestic intelligence service has formally placed the far-right Alternative for

Germany

(

AfD

) under surveillance on suspicion of trying to undermine Germany’s democratic constitution, a person briefed on the

move

said.


After four years ago becoming the first avowedly anti-immigrant party to enter the German parliament, the AfD now becomes the first party to be monitored in this way since the Nazi era ended in 1945. It was propelled into the Bundestag in 2017 by voters angry with Chancellor

Merkel

’s decision to welcome one million migrants.

The BfV’s move follows a two-year review of the AfD’s political platform, and will allow the agency to eavesdrop on calls involving AfD members and scrutinise party funding. Alexander Gauland, the AfD’s parliamentary floor leader, and co-leader Tino Chrupalla accused BfV of trying to hurt their chances in September’s election.