The invitation extended to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) by the organizers of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) continues to draw condemnation from within Germany’s political and security establishment. Stephan Kramer, the head of Thuringia’s state intelligence agency, has joined a growing chorus of criticism, labeling the invitation “problematic” in an interview with “Der Spiegel”.
Kramer’s remarks carry significant weight given the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz’s (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) assessment of the AfD. While a recent legal challenge has temporarily suspended the agency’s May 2025 classification of the party as a proven right-wing extremist organization, Kramer stressed that the underlying factual evaluation remains unchanged.
Crucially, he questioned the practical purpose of the invitation, noting the apparent absence of planned panel discussions involving AfD representatives. This, he argues, negates any possibility of substantive political debate and instead transmits a concerning message. “It sends a dangerous signal of normalization within German society” Kramer warned, “and could damage the reputation of the rule of law and a resilient democracy in Germany.
The controversy highlights a deeper unease surrounding the AfD’s growing political influence and the potential for normalizing extremist views within mainstream discourse. Critics argue that inviting a party under such intense scrutiny risks providing a platform for narratives that undermine democratic values, regardless of whether the party is afforded a speaking slot. The MSC organizers, traditionally a forum for addressing critical global security challenges, now face scrutiny for the implicit optics of legitimizing a party whose association with extremist ideologies remains a subject of intense legal and political debate.