A welcome AfD court ruling for German democracy

Published February 28, 2026 6:00am ET



A German court has rightly blocked the country’s domestic intelligence service from continuing to brand the Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany) party a “right-wing extremist” organization.

Otherwise lawfully operating political movements, however distasteful, must be confronted through argument and competition rather than through a ban. If not, you don’t have a true democracy. A free marketplace of ideas remains the most powerful mechanism for exposing bad arguments and marginalizing those who peddle them.

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