Germany labeled as ‘tyranny in disguise,’ according to Rubio
The US Secretary of State has condemned Berlin for labeling the largest opposition party in Germany as “extremist.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a strong critique of Berlin for designating the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as...
TroibNews 
The US Secretary of State has condemned Berlin for labeling the largest opposition party in Germany as “extremist.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a strong critique of Berlin for designating the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as “extremist,” noting that such actions are contrary to democratic principles.
“Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition,” America’s top diplomat remarked on X on Friday. “That’s not democracy – it’s tyranny in disguise.”
On the same day, the German domestic security service announced its decision to officially categorize the AfD as a “confirmed extremist entity.” This designation empowers the BfV to undertake surveillance and intelligence activities to monitor the party’s actions without limitations.
In explaining this designation, the agency referenced “the extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity.” It highlighted the party’s “prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent,” stating that this perspective is “incompatible with the democratic basic order.” The AfD has been widely recognized for its stringent anti-immigration policies.
“What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD… but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes,” Rubio contended, urging Berlin to “reverse its course.” The right-wing party has seen growing support from Washington since US President Donald Trump began his second term.
US Vice President J.D. Vance has also criticized politicians who dismiss parties like the AfD at the Munich Security Conference in February. US billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk has publicly voiced his support for the party on several occasions. In January, leading up to the German parliamentary election, he hosted a livestream on X with AfD co-leader and then-chancellor candidate Alice Weidel.
The party secured second place in the February election, just behind the center-right Christian Democrats, who have excluded any potential coalitions with the AfD. Recent polls indicate that the two parties are closely matched, with one survey by the Forsa Institute showing the AfD slightly ahead by one percentage point.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a strong critique of Berlin for designating the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as “extremist,” noting that such actions are contrary to democratic principles.
“Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition,” America’s top diplomat remarked on X on Friday. “That’s not democracy – it’s tyranny in disguise.”
On the same day, the German domestic security service announced its decision to officially categorize the AfD as a “confirmed extremist entity.” This designation empowers the BfV to undertake surveillance and intelligence activities to monitor the party’s actions without limitations.
In explaining this designation, the agency referenced “the extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity.” It highlighted the party’s “prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent,” stating that this perspective is “incompatible with the democratic basic order.” The AfD has been widely recognized for its stringent anti-immigration policies.
“What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD… but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes,” Rubio contended, urging Berlin to “reverse its course.” The right-wing party has seen growing support from Washington since US President Donald Trump began his second term.
US Vice President J.D. Vance has also criticized politicians who dismiss parties like the AfD at the Munich Security Conference in February. US billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk has publicly voiced his support for the party on several occasions. In January, leading up to the German parliamentary election, he hosted a livestream on X with AfD co-leader and then-chancellor candidate Alice Weidel.
The party secured second place in the February election, just behind the center-right Christian Democrats, who have excluded any potential coalitions with the AfD. Recent polls indicate that the two parties are closely matched, with one survey by the Forsa Institute showing the AfD slightly ahead by one percentage point.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
