Overview
- The Wiesbaden administrative court ruled on Wednesday that the Hessian Office for the Protection of the Constitution may treat the AfD state branch as a right‑wing Verdachtsfall and continue observation.
- The court said there are sufficient factual indications that the state AfD pursues aims against the democratic order, which justifies using intelligence-gathering powers in individual cases.
- Judges held the 2022 press announcement by the intelligence office and interior ministry was unlawful at the time because Hessen then lacked a legal basis, but the Landtag later amended the law to permit future public notices.
- The chamber allowed an appeal so the Hessian Higher Administrative Court could review the decision and the AfD has said it will consider further legal steps while party leaders called the move politically motivated.
- The ruling builds on earlier emergency decisions from 2023 and 2025 and follows similar proceedings in other states, underscoring a national pattern of courts testing how services may monitor parts of the AfD.