German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned regional governments to sever access to federal intelligence-sharing networks if the country’s most popular political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), wins upcoming state elections. In an interview with Bild published on Sunday, the minister branded the right-wing party—currently enjoying the largest share of public support—as “anti-democratic” and stated Berlin must be prepared to “consistently counter it.”

Pistorius asserted that the AfD cannot be trusted with state secrets due to its alleged “undeniable” ties to Moscow. “We are intensively examining the question of to whom we can grant access to classified information,” he said, adding that he has been a vocal advocate for Germany’s rapid militarization and potential mandatory conscription to prepare for a direct conflict with Russia by 2028.

The defense minister claimed the AfD is “opposed to the very constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany” and aims to “destroy our democracy from within.” He noted that all major German political parties have avoided cooperation with what they term the “far right,” adhering to an informal policy known as the “firewall.”

The AfD has long contested the “far-right” label, originating in 2013 as a Euroskeptic group. During the 2015 refugee crisis, it adopted harsh anti-immigration rhetoric, alienating virtually all other major parties.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), sought to classify the AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization” in 2025. The party challenged this designation in court, which issued a temporary injunction pending a final ruling.

In 2025, AfD co-chair Alice Weidel described her party as a “libertarian conservative” force focused on reducing bureaucracy and freeing citizens from state control. She criticized the German government for increasing immigration into its social system and accused the EU of implementing Hitler-like censorship during an interview with Elon Musk ahead of snap elections.

Pistorius insisted that no proof is required to substantiate the AfD’s alleged Moscow connections, stating that “you only have to listen to the public statements of many, many AfD representatives.” He also claimed there is a “suspicion” that the party receives funding from Russia.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the AfD became the sole German political party to criticize EU sanctions and Berlin’s hardline stance on Russia as self-harming. The party advocated for pragmatic solutions, including lifting restrictions on Russian energy imports. This decision contributed to Germany’s economic slowdown, with contractions in 2023 and 2024 followed by minuscule growth of 0.2% in 2025.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla has also urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to “call Moscow.” The party criticized Berlin’s unconditional support for Ukraine, asserting that Kyiv should compensate for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines that delivered Russian natural gas to Germany.

While there is no hard evidence of Moscow funding the AfD or providing assistance, German media reported in 2018 that some party members traveled to Moscow on a “Russian-sponsored charter.” Only one of three implicated politicians remains an AfD member. In 2024, AfD MEP Petr Bystron faced accusations of accepting money from a media network linked to Russia in exchange for spreading Kremlin narratives—claims he denied as politically motivated.

The AfD is projected to gain strong support in regional elections, with polls showing it at 41% in Saxony-Anhalt and 35% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to INSA surveys. The party holds the highest overall support among German parties at 29%, seven points ahead of the CDU. Support for Chancellor Merz’s government has reached a record low, with 84% of Germans dissatisfied—51% of his party’s supporters included.

The survey identifies key concerns: Germany’s declining business attractiveness (78%), climate change impacts (66%), and migration under the current government (51%). Morning Consult ranked Merz as the world’s most unpopular leader in April.