You underestimate HOW extreme the AfD is: too far-right even for other far-right parties!
Volksverpetzer
The AfD is not only on the extreme fringes of right-wing extremism because of its demands for so-called “remigration.” Links to militant structures, references to National Socialism, and fantasies of territorial expansion raise a fundamental question: Is the party still being underestimated?
That the AfD is a far-right party is nothing new. But it is even more extreme than you might think. It is so extreme that even other – also very right-wing – parties at the European level no longer want anything to do with it. The AfD now openly advocates the expulsion of millions of people – in some cases also German citizens with a migrant background – using the neo-Nazi term “remigration”. And that is just the icing on the cake. The AfD’s radicalism is expressed not only in its program, but already among individual members – specifically in their willingness to use violence.
One example of this is the involvement of AfD politicians in the Nordkreuz terrorist network or the appropriation of far-right holidays to spread völkisch ideas. Most recently, an AfD youth official even attracted attention because he published a map outlining Germany’s intended expansion. All these examples show: The AfD is at the extreme edge of far-right extremism. It wants to undermine German democracy as we know it. It is openly hostile to people and the constitution. On its way to achieving its goal, it stops at nothing. Apparently not at association with violence and seemingly also not at National Socialist ideology.
Far-right AfD: Even too far-right for other far-right extremists
Even other far-right parties at the European level consider the AfD too extreme – this is also the conclusion reached by an analysis by Belltower-News. The decisive factors are not only the AfD’s positions, but also how the party and its members behave. In themselves, there are many overlaps among Europe’s far-right parties, for example in their attitudes toward the EU or migration. Two examples are the Italian Lega and the French Rassemblement National. The difference: These two parties at least show a willingness to work with other parties, or at least to moderate themselves strategically. In France, during her time as party leader, former Rassemblement National chair Marine Le Pen began a process of “de-demonization” of the party. The goal: to make the party appear more moderate, modern and therefore more acceptable as a coalition partner. Some warn that this may also be merely a show.
Regardless: The AfD, by contrast, openly attacks the established media as well as academic freedom and publicly calls, using the anti-constitutional slogan “remigration”, for the mass expulsion of millions of people supposedly foreign to Germany. This apparently includes German citizens as well. More on this later. Few other far-right parties in Europe make such a demand so openly. (The Austrian FPÖ is one such exception). Le Pen even explicitly distanced herself from the concept of “remigration” and explained that her party stood “in stark contrast to the AfD” on this matter.
In Germany, all established parties still rule out a coalition with the AfD. Even though parts of the Union are working to abolish this firewall (and itself). At the European level, too, some of the other radical-right parties distanced themselves from it. Shortly before the 2024 European elections, the ID group in the European Parliament – which also includes the Italian Lega and Rassemblement National – even expelled the AfD from its ranks. That really speaks volumes.
The AfD is particularly extreme
And it is not only other far-right parties that distance themselves from the AfD. Former AfD members also now consider the party too radical. For example, former AfD chair Jörg Meuthen stated: “The radicals have taken control of the AfD.” Christopher Emden, the AfD’s former deputy state leader in Lower Saxony, described the AfD as an “abyss for Germany.” You can find more quotes from AfD defectors in this article:
The fact that the AfD is too far-right even for other right-wing extremists of course does not make these people or parties democratic or harmless. But it shows how far the AfD goes with its open radicalism. While other far-right parties try to hide their extreme positions behind a more moderate public image and appear politically acceptable, the AfD deliberately places its own radicalism front and center. In doing so, it goes far beyond what even parts of the European far right consider politically defensible.
The AfD owes its expulsion from the European ID group and the distancing of former members to its nonexistent moderation and open radicalism. This article explains how this radicalism manifests itself.
The racist concept of “remigration”
Earlier, we mentioned a term that the far-right AfD now likes to use to describe its plans: “remigration.” The “secret plan against Germany” was exposed in January 2024 through an investigation by Correctiv. Also present at the secret meeting was the neo-Nazi and far-right extremist Martin Sellner. At the secret meeting in November 2023, he presented his concept of remigration. According to this concept, the AfD’s specific plan is to expel millions of people supposedly foreign to Germany – apparently including people with German citizenship!
The anti-constitutional concept aims to force people to leave Germany en masse. According to him, citizenship is irrelevant; the objective is to exert “high pressure to assimilate” through “tailored laws.” It would be a “project spanning decades.” Such a plan would undermine the principle of equality enshrined in the Basic Law. But the fact that far-right extremists frequently come into conflict with laws and do not like to abide by them can also be seen in the behavior of individual members and supporters (more on this later).
“Remigration” is openly demanded repeatedly
For the AfD, “remigration” is more than just a slogan used at a meeting full of far-right extremists. Several examples show: The AfD does not merely dream of “remigration,” but already has concrete implementation plans. The AfD’s government program in Saxony-Anhalt calls for the “launch of a deportation and remigration offensive.” In November 2024, the Bavarian AfD adopted a “Bavarian Resolution for Remigration,” according to which migrants are to be expelled from Germany.
In June 2025, the Federal Administrative Court classified the “remigration concept” as “inhumane” and therefore unconstitutional, because the concept distinguishes between Germans with and without a migrant background. This classification shows: The concept is not a meaningless, harmless point in a party program, but a project hostile to humanity.
The fact that the AfD has adopted this unconstitutional concept shows that it does not care what others think of it. In another article, we discussed in greater detail the AfD’s failure to distance itself from the remigration concept – using Martin Sellner’s attacks on Volksverpetzer lawyer Chan-jo Jun as an example:
Jun is a German born here. But Sellner says that he too should be “remigrated.” The AfD applauded – and despite asking, we never heard any distancing from the party. One example showing that the concept of “remigration” (as well as the AfD’s interest in it) is more central than it was two years ago is a conversation between Martin Sellner and Lena Kotré, an AfD member of the Brandenburg state parliament.
The AfD has no problem with racism
The moderator of the discussion asks both of them how they respond to the accusation of racism coming from the left-wing spectrum in connection with the remigration plans. Sellner says: “Wanting the majority to remain in their own country – that (...) has nothing to do with racism. And we see: All countries in the world are allowed to do that: Japan for the Japanese, Greenland for the Greenlanders, but only here is precisely this defensive stance interpreted as offensive racism. That is actually anti-white racism.” Of course, this is an intentionally trivializing and false representation.
Kotré specifically refers to “Arab-Muslim” people in her explanation and spreads lies – at least regarding safety and crime in Germany: “We have a massive (...) problem with violence involving these immigrants. (...) If that is racism, then it is racism. Then I am a racist.” That she is an outright racist because she demonizes people on the basis of their origin is, unusually, an honest admission.
Does the AfD dream of racial mania and an Aryan certificate?
Kotré even makes those present a promise regarding the implementation of remigration: “The question is not whether, but when the AfD will be in the state government here, then I can promise one thing (...) deportations will continue until the runway glows.” Kotré emphasizes that she supports deportations on a scale of millions. If only 60 million people lived in Germany instead of more than 80 million, she believes that would be manageable.
Here, these neo-Nazis also reveal that this is not about security, but about pure racial mania. There are neither 20 million criminals in Germany nor are they predominantly non-German. In fact, the vast majority of suspects are naturally German. What does exist, however, is somewhat more than 20 million non-Germans and German citizens with a migrant background living here legally and peacefully. Kotré apparently wants to throw everyone out of the country who is not a “pure-blooded” German. Regardless of whether they are citizens, criminals or neither. The Aryan certificate would be back. There was no distancing from this conversation by the party leadership and no expulsion of Kotré.
The conversation between Kotré and Sellner shows: Members of the far-right AfD have no problem openly presenting themselves as fascists. Most far-right parties from other European countries would probably not dare such a stunt either. In addition, these far-right narratives are embedded in supposedly casual, relaxed conversations. The danger is that anti-constitutional attitudes are normalized and presented as acceptable in this way.
Radical demands and connections: Examples from the party
A look at individual AfD officials at the federal and state levels also shows: There can be no talk of restraint. One example of how far the far-right AfD can go is its connection to terrorist organizations such as the Nordkreuz terrorist group. We reported on this in greater detail in another article. Here is a summary: The network was exposed in 2017. During searches of the homes of six members, investigators found weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition, orders for body bags and quicklime, as well as lists of political opponents’ addresses. The group was founded by former SEK officer Marko G.
A witness statement linked Marko G. to AfD local politician Philip Steinbeck. According to the investigative committee, Steinbeck organized events whose target audience included AfD and Nordkreuz members. During a raid in August 2024, authorities seized large quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosives from him. Steinbeck sits for the AfD on the Ludwigslust-Parchim district council. He became known through a video showing him making young people crawl on all fours, kicking them and ordering them to pick up a German flag from the ground and lick it, which they did. Yes, you read that correctly.
Further examples of AfD supporters’ willingness to use violence
The militant group “Saxon Separatists” also has links to the far-right AfD. According to findings by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the group is characterized by racist and apocalyptic ideas. Its members rejected the liberal democratic basic order. In November 2024, the group was broken up in a raid. Eight suspects were arrested, and the trial began in January 2026. Three of the suspects were politically active for the AfD at the local level.
In Stendal, AfD member of the European Parliament Arno Bausemer allegedly confronted two young people in August 2026 who had allegedly previously tried to damage AfD campaign posters. According to police, a blunt instrument was used. A 14-year-old had to be treated in hospital.
Former prison officer Daniel Zabel, who was temporarily an assessor on the AfD’s Saxony state executive board, was sentenced in September 2023 to 16 months’ imprisonment on probation for racist abuse at Dresden Prison.
Spreading far-right ideas at solstice celebrations
The AfD’s extremism is also expressed in how it appropriates and uses celebrations to inspire people to pursue its aims. At a solstice celebration in June 2024 in Strahwalde, Saxony, AfD local politicians sang Hitler Youth songs and honored an SS standard-bearer. These reports strongly recall celebrations during National Socialism. After 1933, it was primarily the Hitler Youth, but also other Nazi organizations, that celebrated the summer solstice.
The AfD’s fantasies of expansion
Most recently, Luca Maurice Strauf, an official of the AfD youth organization “Generation Deutschland,” attracted attention with a post that also recalls National Socialist ideas. Under the name “Helmut Strauf GD/AfD,” Strauf wrote in his post on October 3 that German unity meant a state for the entire German people. In this context, he described German reunification as an “intermediate victory.”
Below it was a map of Central Europe on which, in addition to Germany, further areas were colored in: Austria, Luxembourg, and parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Romania, France and Denmark. In Hungary and Romania, the word “Germans” appeared. The map was quickly deleted and Strauf resigned. However, the disturbing impression remains.
Far-right AfD dangerous according to researchers as well
The fact that the AfD is far-right and dangerous is not simply a subjective opinion. Researchers also regard the AfD as far-right extremist. According to far-right extremism researcher Matthias Quent in an interview with Tagesschau, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is one of “Europe’s most extreme far-right parties.” A large proportion of AfD voters, by contrast, consider the centrist parties, not the AfD, to be extreme. The AfD benefits from being part of everyday political life and socially rooted. Quent also explains: “The illusion that Germany learned its lesson from National Socialism once and for all lies in ruins.”
The media can stop referring to it as a party that is “far-right in parts.” The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is not the be-all and end-all in this classification. One does not have to wait for an authority’s classification or for court proceedings to recognize that the AfD is a danger to democracy.
According to the bpb, far-right extremism is directed against the equality of all people. Because this is a central principle of the Basic Law, far-right extremism is hostile to the constitution. The fact that the far-right AfD supports the “remigration concept” makes clear how little it cares about most people and the Basic Law.
The AfD is still underestimated
People still underestimate how extreme the AfD is. It is not simply another far-right party that stands somewhat further to the right than others on migration policy. The examples in this article paint a different, broader picture: AfD officials have links to militant neo-Nazi structures, and leading AfD politicians openly support a so-called “remigration” that is also intended to affect German citizens. Added to this are völkisch ideas of belonging, the glorification of National Socialist traditions and nationalist fantasies of territorial expansion.
These are not isolated incidents unrelated to one another that could be dismissed as individual members’ slip-ups. Anyone who makes people second-class citizens because of their origin, denies them membership in their own country or seeks to push them out of society is attacking the fundamental principles of democracy. The equality of all people and equal fundamental rights for all citizens are non-negotiable.
That is why the question of a possible ban on the AfD must also be seriously examined. There are sufficient concrete indications that the far-right AfD is fighting the liberal democratic basic order. A majority of the population also calls for an examination by the Federal Constitutional Court, including among Union supporters. The Union leadership has so far blocked this without good arguments.
Did you learn something from this article? Then we would be delighted if you shared it and thereby supported our work.