Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), has warned of a supposed rise in violence among right-wing extremist youth. However, the federal government itself admits it has no concrete data to support this claim.
In response to a parliamentary question by MP Martin Hess, a member of the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), the government acknowledged that it does not collect specific figures on political violence among young people. The available statistics are only presented in general terms in the annual report by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, with no breakdown by age group.
Despite this lack of evidence, Dobrindt has announced new prevention measures aimed at young people, especially in schools, youth associations, and community centers. The goal, according to the minister, is to identify potential cases of radicalization early and respond accordingly. Holger Münch, president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)—Germany’s equivalent of the FBI—also recently referred to a growth in radical right-wing youth scenes—again, without offering any concrete data.
The AfD’s Hess harshly criticized the minister, accusing him of creating a false picture of the situation. He argued that this strategy is intended to divert attention away from more pressing threats such as left-wing extremism and Islamist radicalism, for which there is clear and verifiable data. According to Hess, this is a case of political manipulation for ideological purposes.
The MP also emphasized that citizens have a right to know the true security situation in the country. He insisted that spreading fear without a factual basis is irresponsible and undermines trust in public institutions.
This incident only fuels the belief that the government is trying to discredit the AfD, particularly among younger voters. The absence of solid data has not prevented the government and certain media outlets from promoting the idea of a surge in right-wing youth extremism, reinforcing the perception of a politically motivated campaign rather than a response grounded in objective facts.
