Opposition Accuses Merz Government of Creating 'Secret Police'
Germany's opposition lawmakers have accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government of seeking to create a "secret police" by dramatically expanding the powers of the country’s intelligence agencies. These accusations surfaced during the first parliamentary debate on the reform, where members from the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Left, and the Greens expressed concerns about increased surveillance and the potential infringement on fundamental rights. The government defends the changes as necessary to address escalating security threats.
Under a reform approved by the cabinet last month, the BND foreign intelligence agency and the BfV domestic security service would gain broader operational powers, allowing them to move beyond their traditional roles of gathering and analyzing information. Among the proposed changes, the BND could engage in sabotage against foreign companies, penetrate foreign IT systems, and disable weapons deemed a threat to Germany. Meanwhile, the BfV would be allowed to secretly enter homes and access computers and mobile phones under certain circumstances.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the reform would usher in a "new era" for the country's intelligence services, transforming them into "genuine intelligence agencies" capable of actively countering threats. He emphasized the need for Germany to enhance its intelligence capabilities to match those of its European partners.
AfD MP Gottfried Curio criticized the proposed overhaul of the BfV, labeling it as "Stasi 2.0," a reference to East Germany's infamous secret police. He described the reform as a "coup against the rule of law," although the AfD itself supports granting the BND greater operational powers. The BfV has been involved in a legal dispute with the AfD, having designated the party as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" organization in 2025. However, a Cologne court recently ruled that the agency could not apply that classification while the case is ongoing.
Concerns Over Electoral Gains and Security Powers
The ruling came just months before the AfD made significant gains in regional elections, achieving 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt and 38.3% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Green MP Konstantin von Notz warned that granting the BfV such extensive powers would be a "grave mistake" and questioned whether parts of the reform would withstand scrutiny from the Constitutional Court. Despite his concerns, he supported enhancing the BND's powers.
Left Party MP Clara Buenger went further, cautioning that the BfV could evolve into a "new German secret police." She argued that fundamental rights are being compromised, as the agency would gain powers typically reserved for law enforcement.
Intelligence Reviewed
The debate occurs as Merz's government prepares for increasing influence from the AfD at the regional level. Reports indicate that Berlin is developing a "secret plan" to counter potential "obstructionism" by regional authorities, which would allow the federal government to bypass them in a crisis.
The German government aims for the intelligence reform to take effect at the beginning of 2027, pending approval from both the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
