Far-right security threat will persist in Germany

Significance

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) says membership of the group has more than doubled since 2016, to 23,000. The group's rejection of the federal republic attracted new supporters during the pandemic. It has been linked to 700 violent crimes since 2017.

Impacts

• The government will likely introduce measures to tighten gun regulations and improve screening within the security and defence forces.
• The ending of COVID-19 lockdowns does not appear to have reduced the appeal of far-right movements whose support grew after March 2020.
• Deteriorating support for public institutions risks enhancing the prospects of extreme parties during the next elections.