The Office for the Protection of the Constitution evaluates the decision of the Cologne administrative court to assess the AfD as a right-wing extremist suspected case as a success.

"I welcome that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been confirmed in its assessment of the AfD by the Cologne Administrative Court," said the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, on Tuesday evening.

"This is a good day for democracy."

His authority will issue a detailed statement as soon as the written reasons for the judgment are available and have been evaluated by the Federal Office.

The International Auschwitz Committee also welcomed the verdict.

This means that "the AfD and its staid attempts at dissimulation have been given a resounding slap in the face," said the committee's executive vice-president, Christoph Heubner.

"The AfD can and should be observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution because it could not refute that it is a thoroughly right-wing extremist party that is constantly trying to destabilize democracy."

The court had decided that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution may classify and observe the AfD as a suspected case.

Under certain conditions, this enables the Cologne authority to monitor communications and use informants and other intelligence resources.

The AfD had sued against the assessment of the protection of the constitution.

The Cologne judgment is not yet final;

the decision can be appealed.

There are sufficient indications of anti-constitutional efforts within the party, the court said.

Observers of the party and some former AfD members have been observing for a long time a growing influence of the far-right current of the party on the course of the AfD.

Long-standing co-chairman Jörg Meuthen left the AfD at the end of January.

Significance of the verdict for intelligence control

According to politicians from the other parties, the court decision could also have an impact on the work in the Bundestag.

The Greens parliamentary group Vice Konstantin von Notz said on ZDF: "The fact that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies this party as a suspected case is a relevant, also security policy process.

And of course it raises questions.

Also for the German Bundestag itself – for example in the control of the secret service.”

The chairman of the parliamentary control committee in the Bundestag, Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU), said: "If this judgment is finally confirmed, it is of course not possible for a party that is classified as a suspected case to be a member of the parliamentary control committee.

The Parliamentary Control Committee oversees the federal intelligence services.

AfD chairman Tino Chrupalla was surprised by the verdict.

The AfD will decide on the basis of the written reasons for the judgment whether to lodge further appeals.

The AfD will “continue to do everything in its power to support an alternative policy in parliament as an opposition party,” said Chrupalla.

The AfD has been in the Bundestag since 2017.

Knobloch speaks of a victory for the rule of law

From the point of view of the former President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Charlotte Knobloch, the judgment is "very good news for the political culture in our country".

"It is a victory for the well-fortified constitutional state and a clear sign that democracy does not have to stand idly by and watch the activities of its opponents," said the President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria on Tuesday evening.

The observation of the party by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is also a step in the right direction "so that everyone in Germany can live safely and without fear," Knobloch continued.

"If a party borrows from National Socialism and openly aligns itself with enemies of democracy at home and abroad, then the constitutional institutions must be able to keep a close eye on them."

Ultimately, Knobloch also sees the Germans themselves as having a duty: “I hope that the AfD voters will finally realize who they sent to parliament.

Anyone who votes for the AfD does not vote for a 'protest' – they support a party monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.”