The US vice president has slammed attempts to “destroy” the anti-immigration AfD party
US Vice President J.D. Vance likened the German government’s treatment of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to the rebuilding of the Berlin Wall.
On Friday, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, designated the anti-immigration AfD as an “extremist” organization, pointing to “xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic, and anti-Muslim statements made by leading party officials.” This designation allows police to closely monitor the party’s activities.
“The AfD is the most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it,” Vance posted on X.
“The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt – not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment,” he added.
Alice Weidel, the party’s co-leader, accused the government of trying to suppress dissent, stating on X, “Since the AfD is the strongest party in polls now, they want to suppress the opposition & freedom of speech.”
Founded in 2013 in response to Germany’s handling of the eurozone debt crisis, AfD has since shifted its focus to advocating for stricter immigration and asylum laws and opposing the “woke agenda.” The party also criticizes NATO and has protested against sending weapons to Ukraine.
AfD came in second in the federal elections in February, securing 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag. Last month, it led opinion polls for the first time, with 26% support. The party is particularly popular in the economically underdeveloped regions of former East Germany. AfD has also faced controversy due to some members’ links to far-right and neo-Nazi groups or their use of slogans associated with Nazi Germany.
Major German parties have refused to cooperate or form coalitions with AfD, adhering to the “firewall” principle. During his speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance criticized efforts to isolate the party. “Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There is no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don’t,” the US vice president stated.
The Berlin Wall, a concrete barrier erected by East Germany in 1961 to prevent its citizens from fleeing to West Berlin, became a potent symbol of the Cold War and stood until its demolition in 1989, which led to German reunification.
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