Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)
EU RANK: 170 (Tier 4: Low Performance)
AfD is a right‑wing populist and national‑conservative party with a hardline anti‑immigration agenda, strong Euroscepticism and frequent challenges to liberal‑democratic norms. In the 2025 federal election it won about 20.8% of the vote and 152 seats, becoming the second‑largest party and main opposition force, while remaining isolated from coalition partners. The domestic intelligence service has classified parts of AfD as a “confirmed extremist” organization, a designation now under legal dispute.
Disinformation and alternative media
AfD operates a dense ecosystem of party‑linked and sympathetic alternative media, web portals, YouTube channels, Telegram networks and social‑media pages, that amplify polarising narratives on migration, Islam, climate policy, gender and alleged election fraud. Multiple studies of online disinformation in Europe and Germany highlight AfD as a central vector for spreading misleading or false content and conspiracy‑tinged frames, often overlapping with Russian state narratives and international far‑right networks. The party systematically attacks “mainstream media” as Lügenpresse and directs supporters toward its controlled information channels. Disinformation/alternative media DMI risk is high.
Foreign influence and external alignments
While AfD officially supports German NATO membership, it consistently criticises sanctions and weapons deliveries to Ukraine, calls for rapprochement with Russia, and maintains ties to pro‑Kremlin and other illiberal actors abroad. Open investigations have examined flows of opaque funding and in‑kind support linked to Russian or Russia‑friendly networks (for example around some AfD figures in the European Parliament), though legal outcomes vary and not all allegations have led to convictions. Its foreign‑policy discourse is frequently amplified by Russian state media, increasing concern that AfD serves as a domestic conduit for hostile‑state influence even without proven direct control. Foreign influence DMI risk is high.
Media capture, advertising and public service media
AfD does not control major legacy media corporations but has invested heavily in party‑adjacent outlets and social‑media infrastructures that function as parallel information systems for its base. It campaigns aggressively against public‑service broadcasters, demanding deep cuts, structural overhauls and the replacement of leadership figures it brands as partisan, which observers interpret as attempts to intimidate and politically discipline ARD/ZDF rather than to ensure pluralism. The party and its allies also organise boycotts and smear campaigns against critical private outlets and journalists. Media capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is high.
Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity
Litigation records from 2015–2025 show AfD repeatedly investigated and sanctioned for breaches of party‑finance rules, undeclared donations, and opaque campaign structures involving third‑party associations. Several regional and federal branches have faced penalties from the Bundestag administration for illegal funding arrangements, and ongoing probes concern possible foreign‑linked influence operations. Combined with extremist surveillance status and efforts to undermine independent institutions, this produces a significantly elevated integrity‑risk profile. DMI corruption and institutional integrity risk is high.
Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media
AfD politicians routinely denounce journalists as “lying press”, “system media” or enemies of the people, encouraging supporters to distrust and sometimes directly confront reporters at events and demonstrations. Press‑freedom organisations document a disproportionate share of threats, insults and physical attacks on journalists in Germany coming from AfD supporters or environments close to the party. The party and individual members have also launched lawsuits and public smear campaigns against critical outlets, contributing to a climate of fear and self‑censorship, especially in eastern Länder. Press freedom and harassment DMI risk is high.