Germany’s intelligence agency, the BfV, has officially classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as “extremist.” The AfD is a popular political party in the country.

The BfV explained its decision by stating that the AfD’s concept of the German people is based on ethnicity and ancestry, which devalues segments of the population and violates their human dignity. The agency added that this concept is evident in the party’s anti-migrant and anti-Muslim positions.

The AfD responded by condemning the designation as a “blow against democracy” and alleging it was politically motivated. The BfV denied these claims.

The U.S. also voiced criticism of the designation, with Secretary of calling it a form of “tyranny in disguise.”

. stated that Germany’s intelligence agency was given authority to surveil the opposition. He added that the move is not democracy but rather tyranny. He believes what is truly extremist are open border immigration policies opposed by AfD instead of the popular AfD party. He suggested Germany should reverse course.

Elon Musk commented that banning the AfD would be an extreme attack on democracy.

AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla stated they will continue legal action against what they described as defamatory attacks that endanger democracy.

Vice President JD Vance previously met with Weidel and stated that free speech was under attack in Europe.

The BfV also classifies other groups as “extremist,” including the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NDP), the Islamic State and other Islamist groups, and the far-left Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany.

The classification enables the intelligence agency to closely monitor the AfD, which secured a record number of parliamentary seats in Germany’s February elections, finishing in second place.

Due to its history under Nazi and Communist regimes, Germany’s intelligence agency faces stricter legal limitations than other European nations regarding the surveillance of political parties. The “extremist” designation is required to conduct such surveillance.

The designation also allows the intelligence service to intercept party communications.

The “extremist” designation was based on a 1,100-page report by the intelligence agency and follows a court case loss for AfD, which challenged the BfV’s previous classification of the political party as one suspected of extremism.

Conservative leader , head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is expected to be confirmed as chancellor next week after the elections in a coalition government with the center-left Social Democrats.

Both Merz and the Social Democrats have ruled out forming a government with the AfD.

The CDU, along with its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), won Germany’s elections in February with 28.6% of the vote, according to Germany’s international broadcaster (DW).

The AfD obtained 20.8% of the vote, while outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) received 16.4% of the vote, its worst result since World War II.

Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Reuters contributed to this report.