German Intelligence Tightens Classified Data Controls Ahead of Regional Election

German security officials are quietly stepping up their efforts to protect classified information ahead of the upcoming regional election.

The move stems from fears that the AfD, a far-right party that’s been gaining ground since its launch in 2013, could end up controlling a state government.

With the stakes so high, Bloomberg reports that intelligence agencies are changing the way they handle and share sensitive material. They are doing this just in case the AfD wins. These steps are careful and planned, but they show real concern inside Germany’s security world.

Officials fear that a regional government led by the AfD could see top secret intelligence. They might also learn about ongoing investigations and the names of secret sources. This could happen because the party would oversee state spy agencies.

A Political First that Raises Stakes

Right now, everyone’s watching Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, where the AfD’s doing well in the polls. And if the party gets enough votes, they’ll be in control of the state government. That’s never happened before for the AfD.

This would be a huge change in German politics. The mainstream political parties of Germany have always adopted a political “firewall”. They shun any sort of alliance with the AfD, a strategy that aims to keep the far-right political party from exercising any executive power.

However, even a partial win for the AfD could still cause problems. The party could influence who gets important jobs. It could also shape government committees and oversight groups. All of this worries intelligence officials.

Ulrich Siegmund is the AfD’s candidate for premier in Saxony-Anhalt. He has criticized the domestic spy agency. He called it “politically directed” by the ruling party. He said it spies on political opponents instead of doing its real job.

During the campaign event, he said they aim to ensure that the Protection of the Constitution office in Saxony-Anhalt “returns to its core remit.” He argued that the establishment is trying “to protect democracy, as it were, from the will of the voters.”

Intelligence Agencies Fear Information Exposure

Germany has two levels of domestic intelligence, each running its own spy agency. There’s also the national spy agency, the BfV, which keeps an eye on terrorism, espionage, sabotage, and threats against democracy.

State-level spy agencies report to their own interior ministries. This link worries officials. Political leaders could get access to very sensitive information. They might also change how spies do their work.

According to Bloomberg, officials are looking for legal ways to limit access to classified material. Some agencies are thinking about stricter rules for sharing documents. They are also reviewing what information flows between federal and state authorities.

The efforts to protect intelligence come as Germany has made significant progress in cybercrime cases, including identifying an alleged REvil ransomware leader.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius spoke openly about this. He said the federal government might keep information from state ministers who belong to the AfD.

“We are looking very closely at the question of whom we can grant access to classified information,” he told the Bild daily. He said he would feel uneasy giving secret information to an AfD state minister.

“You only have to listen to the public statements of many, many AfD representatives,” he added. According to the minister, it’s impossible to overlook the party’s proximity to the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

Notably, the AfD has close ties to Moscow and has also called for Germany to stop supporting Ukraine. This has raised even more concerns.

Longstanding Tensions With the AfD

The spy agencies and the AfD have not gotten along for years. The BfV hasn’t been shy about its concerns with the AfD.

In May last year, it went so far as to label the party a confirmed right-wing extremist group. The agency said the AfD “disregards human dignity” and is a threat to democracy.  However, a court later blocked this designation while it looked at a complaint from the party.

The BfV pointed to the party’s “ethnicity- and ancestry-based understanding of the people.” It said this goes against Germany’s free democratic order. BfV also pointed to a long list of xenophobic and anti-minority remarks by the party’s leaders, including statements aimed at Muslims and Islam.

The AfD, for its part, strongly denies all of this. Leaders claim they’re targeting the party unfairly for political reasons and accuse the agency of becoming too political itself.  This debate has divided German politics more than almost any other issue.

Broader Security Concerns Add Pressure

The timing of these preparations is not random. Germany recently raised its national security level from “abstract threat” to “high threat.” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said this was because of increasing intelligence about dangers.

Dobrindt noted that the high volume of reports and intelligence led him to reclassify the abstract threat as a “high threat. He also warned that “the risk of attacks must be reckoned with at all times in Germany.”

German officials have warned about many threats. There’s Russian spying, Chinese intelligence operations, cyberattacks, sabotage, the list keeps growing. Plus, domestic extremism is on the rise. With all these threats colliding at once, protecting intelligence has shot to the top of Germany’s priority list.

Authorities are also working to reassure intelligence officers and confidential informants. They want these people to know their identities and operations will stay protected. This is true no matter who wins the election.

The upcoming regional election is about more than just political power. It will test how Germany balances fair elections with the need to keep secrets safe.

For now, intelligence agencies are focusing on preparation. They are not trying to predict the outcome. Their message is clear and simple. No matter who wins, classified information and intelligence sources must stay secure. The identities of spies and informants must also remain protected.

It is a difficult time for Germany, which has always been proud of its democratic practices. However, that tradition is being put to the test. And how the country handles the upcoming hurdles could change its entire political scene. Other nations, also grappling with far-right parties, will be closely watching Germany.