Germany pauses classification of AfD as 'extremist'

BERLIN: Germany's domestic spy agency BfV has paused its classification of Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist organisation in what AfD on Thursday called a partial victory for its challenge against the decision.

BfV would not publicly refer to AfD as a "confirmed right-wing extremist movement" until an administrative court in Cologne has ruled on an AfD bid for an injunction, court statement said. BfV's move last week to classify far-right AfD as extremist produced sharp reactions along the fault lines of German politics, with some lawmakers calling for AfD to be banned and AfD casting it as an attack on democracy.

It also sparked strong criticism from the Trump administration, with US secretary of state Marco Rubio calling on the German authorities to reverse their decision. "The measures associated with the classification will also be suspended," a court spokesperson said.