Officials with AfD party membership: Dobrindt rules out blanket expulsion

Officials with AfD party membership Dobrindt rules out blanket expulsion 06.05.2025, 02:13

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's classification of the AfD as right-wing extremist raises the question of whether officials with the corresponding party membership card face consequences. The designated Interior Minister, Drobrindt, rules this out without examining individual cases. His predecessor merely informed him of the report.

Civil servants with AfD party membership cards do not automatically face disciplinary consequences following the party's classification as confirmed right-wing extremist. Federal Interior Minister-designate Alexander Dobrindt also pointed this out. "There are no blanket consequences for civil servants who declare their support for the AfD. The constitutional loyalty required of civil servants can only be considered on a case-by-case basis," the CSU politician told Bild.

At the same time, Dobrindt emphasized that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's classification of the AfD as right-wing extremist was made independently of the Federal Ministry of the Interior's technical oversight. Outgoing Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the SPD had "brought the Office for the Protection of the Constitution's findings to his attention."

North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul expressed similar skepticism about blanket disciplinary consequences last week. "If you want to remove someone from public service, you have to prove that this person has violated their duty of loyalty to the state through statements or actions. Such cases must be examined individually—without hasty decisions, but with a clear perspective and consistency, if necessary," the CDU politician Reul now reiterated to "Bild."

Merz skeptical about ban proceedings

Since the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist, discussions have been underway about possible consequences, including a possible ban. CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who is set to be elected Chancellor today, has so far been reserved about the matter.

AfD MP Sieghard Knodel from Baden-Württemberg, who was newly elected to the Bundestag in the February election, has since announced his resignation from the parliamentary group and the party. In an email, Knodel wrote, "Given the party's classification as confirmed right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, I must protect my private and professional environment."