In an unexpected turn of events, two representatives of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party traveled to Serbia and Croatia on May 5, 2025, despite being excluded from an official delegation led by Hessen's European Minister Manfred Pentz.

The delegates, Anna Nguyen and Christian Rohde, undertook this trip at their own expense after the AfD was classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as firmly right-wing extremist.

Minister Pentz stated that he would not invite representatives of the AfD on official trips abroad, asserting that it was unreasonable to expect international partners to engage with members of a party identified as advocating extremist positions.

As he expressed to the press, the inclusion of a right-wing extremist party in diplomatic discussions would be inappropriate, particularly considering Germany's historical context.

Following their exclusion, the AfD promptly arranged an independent itinerary for Nguyen and Rohde, who plan to engage with local political figures and participate in several media events in Serbia and Croatia.

While they were able to book a flight on the same commercial airline as the minister's delegation, they were barred from participating in the official program.

Robert Lambrou, the AfD faction leader in Hessen, expressed satisfaction that the political spectrum of democracy in Hessen would be represented on the trip, despite the circumstances surrounding their travel.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had released its renewed evaluation of the AfD on May 2, indicating the party's structures and ideologies pose a threat to Germany's democratic order.

This statement pointed to the party’s ambition to exclude specific demographic groups from equal societal participation, particularly targeting individuals with migration backgrounds and those from predominantly Muslim countries, whom the party does not recognize as equal members of a distinctly defined 'German people.'

In a significant move, Hessen has become the first German federal state to formally act against the AfD's participation in diplomatic travel.

Minister Pentz reiterated the need to safeguard Germany’s international reputation by preventing engagement with representatives of a party deemed extremist, especially in discussions with counterparts in Poland, France, Italy, or Israel.

The official delegation, aimed at enhancing Germany's presence in the Balkans, started on a five-day mission to Belgrade and Zagreb to promote collaboration with regional partners, further indicating the delicate balance between political representation and historical responsibility that the state government is navigating.