**Title: Opposition Accuses Merz Government of Creating 'Secret Police' Amid Intelligence Reform Debate**
In a heated parliamentary debate on Thursday, opposition lawmakers in Germany accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government of attempting to establish a "secret police" through proposed reforms aimed at expanding the powers of the country’s intelligence agencies. The discussion highlighted significant concerns regarding surveillance and the potential infringement on fundamental rights.
The proposed reforms, which were approved by the cabinet last month, would significantly enhance the operational capabilities of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), and the domestic security service, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV). The government argues that these changes are necessary to address increasing security threats both domestically and internationally.
Among the key changes outlined in the reform, the BND would be granted the authority to sabotage foreign companies, infiltrate foreign IT systems, and disable weapons that are considered a threat to Germany's national security. Meanwhile, the BfV would gain the ability to secretly enter homes and access computers and mobile devices under specific circumstances.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that the reform represents a "new era" for the country's intelligence services, transforming them into "genuine intelligence agencies" capable of proactively countering threats. He asserted that Germany needs to modernize its intelligence capabilities to align with those of its European partners.
However, opposition parties expressed strong reservations. Gottfried Curio, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), criticized the overhaul of the BfV, labeling it as "Stasi 2.0," a reference to the infamous secret police of East Germany. Curio described the reform as a "coup against the rule of law," despite the AfD showing support for enhancing the BND's operational powers.
The BfV's relationship with the AfD has been contentious, as the agency has been involved in a legal dispute with the party. In 2025, the BfV classified the AfD as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" organization, but a Cologne court ruled in February that the agency could not apply this classification while the case is ongoing. This ruling came just months before the AfD achieved significant electoral success, garnering 43.8% of votes in Saxony-Anhalt and 38.3% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Green Party MP Konstantin von Notz voiced concerns about the implications of granting the BfV extensive powers, calling it a "grave mistake" and questioning whether parts of the reform would withstand scrutiny from the Constitutional Court. He did, however, express support for enhancing the BND's capabilities.
Clara Buenger from the Left Party went further in her criticism, warning that the BfV could evolve into a "new German secret police." She argued that the reforms would lead to the erosion of fundamental rights, suggesting that the agency would acquire powers typically reserved for law enforcement.
The debate surrounding the intelligence reform comes at a time when Merz's government is facing increasing influence from the AfD at the regional level. Reports from The Telegraph and Die Welt in July indicated that Berlin was formulating a "secret plan" to counter potential "obstructionism" from regional authorities, which would enable the federal government to bypass local governance in times of crisis.
The proposed intelligence reforms are intended to take effect at the beginning of 2027 but require approval from both the Bundestag (the lower house of parliament) and the Bundesrat (the upper house) before they can be enacted.
As the discussions continue, the balance between national security and the protection of civil liberties remains a contentious issue in German politics, with implications that could shape the future of the country's intelligence operations and its democratic framework.