Sharp condemnation has erupted from within German political circles following controversial statements made by Alice Weidel, parliamentary group leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), regarding the German domestic intelligence agency, the Verfassungsschutz. Leading figures from both the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Green Party have accused Weidel of spreading misinformation and undermining the integrity of the agency, while simultaneously highlighting the AfD’s increasingly concerning alignment with authoritarian regimes.
Marc Henrichmann, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Committee on the Affairs of the Intelligence Services, described Weidel’s claim that the Verfassungsschutz is staffed by former Stasi operatives as “not only false, but cynical”. He further criticized the AfD’s casual dismissal of phrases like “Youth led by Youth” characterized as a deliberate disregard for historical reality. Henrichmann directly accused the AfD of adopting a veneer of bourgeois respectability while simultaneously advocating for pro-Russian policies and employing empty rhetoric detrimental to Germany’s interests.
Green Party politician Konstantin von Notz framed Weidel’s remarks as a “politically and historically remarkable occurrence” highlighting a television interview where the AfD leader appeared to minimize the crimes of the former East German state and denigrated the Federal Republic and its security apparatus. Von Notz emphasized that such actions not only demonstrate a “democracy-despising and history-forgetting” attitude towards security agencies during a period of heightened political sensitivity, but also employ “confused and erroneous DDR comparisons.
The criticism intensified with Von Notz pointing out the hypocrisy inherent in the AfD’s stance, arguing the party actively “glorifies regimes and countries like Russia and China, where state authorities demonstrably and massively violate the freedoms of their own citizens”. He characterized this behaviour as “obvious bigotry” questioning the party’s commitment to democratic values and raising serious concerns about its potential to destabilize German society. The exchanges have ignited a broader debate regarding the AfD’s ongoing attempts to legitimize itself within the political landscape and the efficacy of measures to safeguard democratic institutions against extremist ideologies.