The Bavarian government has announced that the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party will be included on its list of extremist organizations, a decision revealed by State Chancellery Chief Florian Herrmann.

However, if applicants conceal their party membership and this is discovered, it could lead to their termination from public service.

The Green Party has expressed support for this inclusion, emphasizing the need to protect public service from far-right influences.

This classification is based on findings from the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which examined the party's activities and statements relevant to Bavaria.

By including the AfD on this list, the government seeks to ensure that public service employees uphold the democratic constitutional order.

This measure is intended to make it more challenging for AfD members to secure public service roles, thereby reinforcing candidates' loyalty to the constitution.

The primary aim of this decision is to evaluate the constitutional loyalty of candidates applying for public service positions, including teachers, police officers, and judges.

Florian Herrmann clarified that mere membership in the AfD does not automatically disqualify individuals from public service; each application will be assessed individually.

Importantly, there will be no retrospective checks on current state employees, allowing some AfD members to continue their roles without being identified.

In response to the decision, the AfD is considering legal action, arguing that it undermines the democratic rights of its members and equates them with terrorist organizations.

Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stressed that public servants must demonstrate commitment to democratic values, asserting that those who oppose the constitution should not hold public positions.

The extremist list also includes other far-right groups such as the NPD and various Pegida factions, as well as leftist groups like Antifa and the DKP.