Germany Defends Labeling AfD, Its Most Popular Party, as Extremist Amid Trump Administration Criticism; Courts to Have Final Say

The German Foreign Office has responded to criticism from the United States regarding Germany's designation of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an extremist group. Germany emphasized that this measure is a democratic response rooted in lessons learned from its history, particularly the need to prevent right-wing extremism. The German government stated that courts will have the final say on the matter. This stance comes amid accusations from the U.S. administration, including former President Donald Trump's team, that labeling AfD as extremist and pursuing legal actions against it undermines democracy. Germany maintains that combating right-wing extremism is essential to preserving democratic values.