Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002110/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mary Khan (ESN), Petra Steger (PfE)
On 2 May 2025, the German security service classified the party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as ‘right-wing extremist’. This measure against what is – according to polls – Germany’s leading party was carried out without trial or valid justification and constitutes targeted state stigmatisation by the Federal Security Service. It violates fundamental principles of EU law: Article 10(1) TEU guarantees that all parties can participate in democratic decision-making and Article 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union guarantees freedom of association. By effectively discriminating against an authorised party, such an administrative measure seriously violates these rights and reveals the ruling class’s willingness to resort to escalation as soon as it sees its power under threat. While other Member States are swiftly faced with infringement procedures for alleged breaches of the rule of law, the Commission remains noticeably inactive vis-à-vis Germany. These double standards undermine the Commission’s credibility as guardian of the Treaties and cast doubt on its political independence. With more and more censorship measures being taken on the basis of ‘disinformation’ claims, it seems that Brussels itself is prepared to systematically eliminate unwelcome opinions that deviate from the political mainstream.
- 1.Does the Commission consider this state surveillance of a legal party to be a violation of Article 10 TEU and Article 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union?
- 2.Why has there yet to be an infringement procedure launched against Germany under Article 258 TFEU to ensure equal treatment of all parties under the rule of law and the integrity of democratic competition?
Submitted: 27.5.2025