| Germany’s domestic intelligence agency formally designated on Friday the far-right AfD party as a right-wing extremist group, potentially accelerating discussions over banning the party. The agency said its months-long investigation confirmed the party’s efforts to undermine the country’s free democratic basic order. Until now, only the regional branches in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt had been classified as 'right-wing extremist groups' by the authorities. Nationwide, the AfD was considered a right-wing extremist “suspected case.” | 
