The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is Germany's federal domestic intelligence agency. Together with the Landesämter für Verfassungsschutz (LfV) at the state level, the federal agency is tasked with intelligence-gathering on efforts against the liberal democratic basic order, the existence and security of the federation or one of its states, and the peaceful coexistence of peoples; with counter-intelligence; and with protective security and counter-sabotage. The BfV reports to the Federal Ministry of the Interior and tasks and powers are regulated in the Federal Constitutional Protection Act. The last President was Thomas Haldenwang; he had been appointed in 2018 and left office in November 2024. The next president is supposed to be assigned by a new government following the 2025 German federal election.
Germany designates AfD as right-wing extremist organisation, citing threat to democracy
Germany’s Federal Office for..