Alleged Misappropriation of €243,000 by AfD Faction in Rhineland-Palatinate
Title: AfD in the Hot Seat: Alleged Misuse of Public Funds Worth Over €240K
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The State Audit Office of Rhineland-Palatinate has placed the AfD state parliamentary group under the magnifying glass, revealing a damning report alleging the misuse of nearly a quarter of a million euros from public funds. The report, exclusive to our website, accuses the AfD group of improper use of 243,499.91 euros, with 182,468.64 euros remaining unpaid. The SPD, CDU, Greens, and FDP factions have repaid their misused funds, totaling around 55,000 euros.
Factions in Rhineland-Palatinate's state parliament receive financial support from public funds to work effectively in parliament. Between 2016 and 2018, the SPD, CDU, AfD, Greens, and FDP were represented and received a combined total of over 16.5 million euros in financial support. The AfD group, with its then 14 members under the leadership of Uwe Junge, received approximately three million euros.
State Audit Office: A Blurred Line between Faction and Party
The State Audit Office's report suggests that several factions may have misused funds, totaling 299,145.43 euros in the audit period. The report cites instances of incomplete travel logs, missing receipts, unclear bookings, or inconsistent accounting. However, the most controversial issue is the mixing of faction and party work.
For example, the audit office criticized a celebration held by the ruling factions of the SPD, Greens, and FDP, which also included journalists and government members. The audit office deemed this celebration impermissible "sympathy advertising." The Ampel factions returned the €18,425.11 spent on the event to the state.
The CDU is also under scrutiny due to incorrectly booked catering at faction and state executive board retreats.
AfD: The Largest Share of Criticized Funds
More than 81% of the criticized funds went to the AfD faction, which only received approximately 18% of the total financial support for the factions in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament.
The audit office criticized a lack of faction reference in various printed materials and larger events. For instance, between 2017 and 2019, a faction newspaper called "Blauer Max" was printed and distributed, where the distinction between party and faction positions was insufficient. The note on the faction as the publisher in the imprint was not sufficient. The printing, creation, and distribution of a total of 300,000 copies cost €70,346.69 and should be refunded.
In October 2016, the AfD faction invited guests to the "100 Days of Faction" event at the Hambacher Castle. More than 300 guests listened to speeches by faction leader Junge and federal chairwoman Frauke Petry criticizing Chancellor Merkel (CDU) and her asylum policy. The audit office sees "insufficient faction reference." Cost: €22,119.30.
Similarly, the State Audit Office complains about a lack of faction reference for distributing brochures on traffic and migration policy and numerous events.
Others Repay, AfD Dragging Feet
Interestingly, while all other factions have fully repaid the disputed amounts, the AfD faction still owes €182,468.64. The Audit Office points out in its report that repayment does not legally remedy misconduct. Yet, the state audit office in Speyer noted that the AfD has three months to settle the amount after the report's publication, with the start of the period depending on the President of the State Parliament, Hendrik Hering (SPD).
Bollinger Threatens Legal Action
Faction leader Bollinger may not comply with the payment request, stating that the faction reserves the right to take legal action. Bollinger argues that the State Audit Office is interfering "at least partly directly in the political work of the faction" with the report. Additionally, Bollinger criticized the report's publication after a long delay, with other federal states handling this differently. The State Audit Office refers to the legally prescribed five-year cycle, but other state parliament factions also view the delay critically.
Abgeordnetenwatch Calls for Improvements
The AfD's description of the distinction between party and faction work in a statement as "arbitrary" is criticized by transparency organization Abgeordnetenwatch. Press spokeswoman Sarah Schoenewolf asserts that factions can easily distinguish where faction work ends and party work begins. Notably, the high amount demanded from the AfD stands out compared to other factions. The state needs a way to reclaim the disputed amounts: "We see that factions try to go as far as possible with these rules. And it's all the more important that there are very clear sanctions that also make it clear: Here is a limit and this is where it stops. Accordingly, improvements are needed here."
- The revelation from the State Audit Office's report about the misuse of public funds by various factions, including the AfD, underscores the importance of policy-and-legislation to regulate the use of public funds in politics, particularly in general-news such as this one regarding the AfD in Rhineland-Palatinate.
- Despite all other factions in Rhineland-Palatinate's state parliament repaying their misused funds, the AfD is dragging its feet and still owes a significant amount, highlighting the need for improved policy-and-legislation to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds in politics.
