Key facts
- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius opposes sharing classified information with potential AfD ministers.
- Pistorius cited the AfD's close ties to Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the reason.
- He expressed concern about the AfD potentially forming a state government in Saxony-Anhalt.
- The AfD achieved 20.8% of the vote in the February 2025 national election.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Sunday his opposition to sharing classified information with potential far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ministers within state administrations. Pistorius cited the AfD's undeniable and close ties to Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the primary justification for his stance.
Speaking in an interview, Pistorius also raised suspicions of financial ties between the AfD and Russia, stating that such a situation "must not happen." The AfD, which secured 20.8 percent of the vote in the February 2025 national election, is poised to contest elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in September.
Pistorius expressed "utmost concern" regarding the possibility of the AfD winning an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt, a development he believes would "send shockwaves through Germany" and be a "very, very bad sign" for democracy. He emphasized the need for decisive action to counter such outcomes.
Should the AfD achieve significant victories in the upcoming elections, it would further solidify their influence in eastern Germany and intensify discussions about whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives can maintain their "firewall" strategy to prevent the far-right from entering the federal government. The party has also faced ongoing scandals, including an image reportedly showing an AfD member raising his arm in a salute.