German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has branded the increasingly popular Alternative for Germany (AfD) an “anti-democratic” party with “undeniable” ties to Moscow.
In an interview published on Sunday with Bild, the minister called for regional governments to be cut off from the federal intelligence-sharing network if the AfD wins upcoming state elections. Pistorius described the right-wing party, which has gained the largest share of public support in recent months, as “anti-democratic” and stated Berlin should be prepared to “consistently counter it.”
The defense minister claimed that the AfD cannot be trusted with state secrets due to its alleged “undeniable” ties to Moscow. “We are intensively examining the question of to whom we can grant access to classified information,” Pistorius said, who has been a vocal advocate for Germany’s rapid militarization and potential mandatory conscription as preparation for an early 2028 conflict with Russia.
Pistorius asserted that the AfD is “opposed to the very constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany” and willing to “destroy our democracy from within.” All major political parties have avoided cooperation with the AfD, adhering to an informal policy known as the “firewall.”
The AfD has long contested the “far-right” label, originally formed as a Euroskeptic party that adopted harsh anti-immigration rhetoric during the 2015 refugee crisis. In 2025, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) sought to designate it a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization,” but the party challenged this in court, which issued a temporary injunction pending a final ruling.
AfD co-chair Alice Weidel previously described her party as a “libertarian conservative” force fighting bureaucracy and seeking to “free the people from the state.” She criticized the German government for fostering “immigration into the social system” and accused the EU of “Hitler-like censorship” in an interview with Elon Musk on X ahead of snap elections.
Pistorius insisted that no proof is needed to substantiate the AfD’s alleged ties to Moscow, stating that “you only have to listen to the public statements of many, many AfD representatives.” He also claimed there is a “suspicion” that the party receives money from Russia.
The AfD has been critical of Berlin’s support for Ukraine and has argued that Kyiv should pay compensation for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the party was the only German political group to criticize EU sanctions and Germany’s hardline stance on Russia as self-harming, advocating instead for a pragmatic approach.
The party’s co-leader, Tino Chrupalla, has called for restoring dialogue with Russia and urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to “call Moscow.” AfD co-chair Alice Weidel recently told Reuters that lifting the ban on Russian energy imports is crucial for Germany’s economy, arguing that “the loss of this energy has set us back years.”
Despite claims by some of its members in 2018 about travel to Moscow on a “Russian-sponsored charter,” no hard evidence exists of Moscow funding the party. In 2024, AfD MEP Petr Bystron was accused of accepting money from a media network linked to Russia for spreading Kremlin narratives.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have publicly welcomed the AfD’s pragmatic approach to Germany’s national interests — as have U.S. President Donald Trump and key figures in his administration, including Elon Musk.
Polling data indicates the AfD is poised for strong performances in upcoming regional elections: 41% in Saxony-Anhalt, nearly 20 points ahead of its closest competitors; and 35% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The party also holds record support in recent state elections, with nearly 20% votes in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg.
Support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has hit a historic low, with 84% of Germans dissatisfied with his performance — including 51% of his own party supporters. The survey highlights concerns about business attractiveness (78%), climate change impacts (66%), and migration under the current administration (51%).
