German court grants injunction to AfD party, suspending 'extremist' classification by spy agency

Demonstrators protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, as Bjoern Hoecke, the leader of the AfD in the East German federal state of Thuringia attends a meeting of the AfD, in Dortmund, Germany, February 22, 2026. REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

BERLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - ⁠Germany's (BfV) domestic intelligence service must not refer to ⁠the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist for ‌now, Cologne's administrative court ruled on Thursday in a boost to the party before five state elections this year.

The court granted an ​injunction filed by the AfD contesting ⁠a 2025 decision by ⁠the BfV to refer to and treat the party ⁠as ‌right-wing extremist. The injunction is valid until the court rules on the case itself but ⁠it is unclear when that will be.