Authorities in Lower Saxony, Germany, have for the first time blacklisted the local chapter of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, labeling it as a surveillance priority because of what they describe as its extremist tendencies. The AfD, which was founded in 2013 and is known for its strict stance on immigration and opposition to Germany's aid to Ukraine, gained significant traction in recent elections, emerging as the second-largest party behind the ruling CDU/CSU coalition with 20% of the vote and 152 seats in the Bundestag.

Despite its notable electoral success, the AfD has faced exclusion from coalition negotiations, which is part of a strategy in German politics known as the 'firewall.' This tactic aims to prevent extreme parties from gaining power by isolating them from forming governing coalitions. Nevertheless, the party’s popularity has surged, with recent surveys indicating that approximately 25% of Germans currently support the AfD, placing it on a similar level of support as the ruling parties, which have historically benefited from the political mainstream.

The decision to monitor the AfD closely reflects a growing concern over the rise of right-wing extremism in Germany. Lower Saxony's Interior Minister, Daniela Behrens, emphasized that the move is grounded in the Office for the Protection of the Constitution's findings and is considered a necessary step to combat the threats posed by extremist groups. As the ongoing political discourse continues to evolve, the actions taken by authorities in Lower Saxony may set a precedent for other German states grappling with similar issues regarding the influence of far-right parties in the political landscape.