AfD Gains Support Amid Merz's Chancellorship Turmoil

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has officially labeled the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as a right-wing extremist organization, granting authorities greater surveillance powers and intensifying political debate. The designation, justified by the party's ethnic-based rhetoric and exclusionary policies, has been criticized by some as a politically motivated move that risks undermining democratic principles. This comes amid a period of significant gains for the AfD, which is now the second-largest party in the Bundestag and has topped national polls for the first time. The recent parliamentary vote saw conservative leader Friedrich Merz initially fail, then narrowly succeed, in being elected chancellor, highlighting divisions among mainstream parties and casting doubts on their ability to maintain a united front against the AfD. The AfD's official extremist status is likely to fuel further controversy and legal challenges, as the party positions itself both as a growing political force and a victim of establishment suppression. The situation underscores the growing tension in German politics between defending constitutional values and upholding pluralistic democracy.