Berlin, Germany – German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius issued a stark warning about the security implications of the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He stressed the need to deny the party’s ministers – should they assume positions in state governments – access to classified information and sensitive intelligence files.
“Close ties” with Moscow
Pistorius, who belongs to the Social Democratic Party, attributed his position to the “close ties” that unite the party with the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Pistorius said: “All we have to do is listen to the public statements of the party representatives; their ties to Putin are undeniable.” He also pointed out that there are strong suspicions about the party receiving funding from Russia, which makes it a security threat to the state.
A political shock is expected in the United States.
This warning comes amid growing concern over the party’s electoral gains. It came in second in the February 2025 elections with 20.8% of the vote, the strongest result for a far-right party since World War II. Attention is now turning to the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania scheduled for September.
Observers believe that Saxony-Anhalt represents the party’s best chance of gaining power, with projections indicating a likely absolute majority. If this scenario materializes, the party will be able to form a state government for the first time. Pistorius described this as “extremely worrying.” He also warned that the party “leaves no doubt about its intentions toward German democracy.”
Security challenges and the “buffer wall”
Given the broad powers held by the governments of Germany’s 16 states, including oversight of certain intelligence agency activities, observers believe that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s rise to power could grant it unprecedented influence over internal security matters. This comes as the party faces a series of crises, the latest being the scandal involving parliamentarian Martin Reichart, who was caught making a gesture resembling a Nazi salute. This has intensified political debates about the party’s commitment to the constitution.
