The recent decision by the Brandenburg state parliament's SPD parliamentary group to reject the return of Jörg Müller as head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has stirred significant political debate. Müller's dismissal, instigated by then Interior Minister Katrin Lange, was due to his delayed communication regarding the AfD's classification as a proven right-wing extremist party. This has prompted coalition partners to explore further steps in appointing a new head for the agency.
The classification of the AfD as a right-wing extremist organization is deemed justified by the Parliamentary Control Commission of the Brandenburg state parliament. Nonetheless, the commission criticized the delayed communication of this decision to both the public and the commission itself. Calls have emerged for legislative amendments to better regulate the classification of extremist activities, shifting final decision-making away from the Interior Ministry.
In parallel, Chancellor's Office Chief Thorsten Frei has emphasized the importance of politically combating the AfD rather than pursuing a party ban. He argues that a ban would not eliminate the AfD’s voter base and stresses the need to address underlying societal issues.
Additionally, CDU politician Hendrik Hoppenstedt has criticized the Union's approach to handling the AfD in the Bundestag. He advocates for strategic engagement, suggesting that the CDU/CSU should participate in electing AfD committee chairs to prevent the party from exploiting victim narratives. Overall, the debate over the AfD's classification and the appropriate political response continues to be a contentious issue in German politics.
