Finance
German court grants injunction to AfD party, suspending 'extremist' classification by spy agency
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Tags:currencies
Quick Summary
A Cologne court issued an injunction stopping Germany’s BfV from calling AfD extremist. The suspension, pending a full ruling, could shape politics before 2026 state elections.
German Court Grants Injunction, Pauses AfD 'Extremist' Classification
Legal Ruling and Political Context
BERLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Germany's (BfV) domestic intelligence service must not refer to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist for now, Cologne's administrative court ruled on Thursday in a boost to the party before five state elections this year.
Next Steps in the Case
Details of the Injunction
The court granted an injunction filed by the AfD contesting a 2025 decision by the BfV to refer to and treat the party as right-wing extremist. The injunction is valid until the court rules on the case itself but it is unclear when that will be.
Summary Procedure Standard
Court's Reasoning
"Following examination under the summary procedure, it cannot currently be established that the applicant, as a whole, is dominated by the positions discussed above," said the court in a statement.
BfV's May Classification
The spy agency had in May classified the far-right AfD as "extremist", enabling it to step up monitoring of the country's biggest opposition party.
Reactions in German Politics
Its move to classify the far-right AfD as extremist in May produced sharp reactions along the fault lines of German politics, with some lawmakers calling for the AfD to be banned and the party casting it as an attack on democracy.
U.S. Administration Response
It also sparked strong criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on the German authorities to reverse their decision.
(Writing by Friederike HeineEditing by Ludwig Burger and Madeline Chambers)
Key Takeaways
- •Cologne’s administrative court granted an injunction blocking the BfV from labeling AfD as extremist for now.
- •The injunction challenges a 2025 BfV decision and remains in force until a full ruling is issued.
- •The pause could affect the political landscape ahead of five German state elections this year.
- •The BfV’s earlier classification intensified political debate over AfD’s status and monitoring.
- •The move drew sharp domestic reactions and international criticism cited in the report.
Frequently Asked Questions about German court grants injunction to AfD party, suspending 'extremist' classification by spy agency
1What is the main topic?
A Cologne court granted an injunction preventing Germany’s BfV from referring to the AfD as a right‑wing extremist organization pending a full ruling.
2Why does this matter to markets?
The ruling may influence political risk in Germany ahead of 2026 state elections, affecting investor sentiment toward German and EU assets.
3Is the decision final?
No. The injunction is temporary and remains in effect until the court issues a full judgment on the AfD’s challenge to the BfV classification.