Justifying Revenge? AfD Pursues Accountability for Ministerial Misuse of Public Funds
Far-right political party, AfD, proposes to hold the Minister accountable for waste issues.
By Tom Kollmar**More Info****Facebook****Twitter****Whatsapp****Email****Print****Copy Link*****
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) calls for federal ministers to be held accountable if they misuse public funds—grossly negligently or intentionally. Their proposal suggests introducing liability for ministerial breach of duty, which will be discussed in the Bundestag this Thursday. According to the bill, state misjudgments by specific decision-makers that cost taxpayers millions or billions could lead to ministerial accountability.
The toll affair involving former Federal Ministers of Transport Alexander Dobrindt and Andreas Scheuer and the procurement of corona masks by the former Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn are examples of such cases. The AfD considers both situations to be at least gross negligence. Parliamentary business manager of the AfD faction, Stephan Brandner, notes a continuous pattern of these damages that have often occurred due to "ideologically driven reasons."
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However, the Greens oppose this proposed legislation. Lukas Benner, member of the legal committee, views the draft as conferring a level of freedom on ministers that does not actually exist. "The existing legal punishment has deliberately high hurdles," says Benner. In Scheuer's "toll debacle," for example, no 'deliberately state-damaging intent' can be proven. "What I see here is a cheap grab at the lowest levels of populism," Benner adds.
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Is the AfD's proposal merely a political stunt, or does it stem from a desire for justice? The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution considers the AfD to be a secure right-wing extremist party. Several quotes from AfD members suggest a potential quest for revenge justice once they seize power.
For instance, Bjoern Hoecke, chairman of the Thuringian AfD, stated, "When we come, then it will be cleaned up. Then it will be cleaned out." Gunnar Linnemann, an AfD member in the Berlin House of Representatives since 2016, has threatened that a new government would hold those responsible for the coronavirus policy "accountable." The party chairman Tino Chrupalla also demanded, according to the constitutional protection report, "We will hold the old parties and their helpers to account." They also discussed "traitors to the people."
Brandner Defends Proposal, Citing Independent Judiciary
Political business manager of the AfD faction, Stephan Brandner, denies any potential for misuse in his draft bill. "If one places faith in the rule of law—which I claim to have partially—the question of potential revenge justice would be evident," Brandner says. Courts, not the succeeding government, would decide whether someone is held civilly liable.
Model Bavaria
The AfD bases its proposal on the Bavarian Ministerial Responsibility Act, which holds ministers liable for gross negligence or intentional misconduct and requires them to compensate the Free State for damages. Nevertheless, this law has never been applied in practice.
Proving culpability could be difficult, especially when addressing the procurement of masks during the pandemic. As essential items were scarce, procurement prices above the actual market value might have been justified. Whether a court would recognize gross negligence remains unclear.
Unlike the state, the AfD does not intend to hold accountable those who wasted money within their party leadership. They claim this has nothing to do with ministerial accountability. In April, the AfD deposited 2.35 million euros precautionarily with the Bundestag administration due to concerns about a fine following a suspected illegal party donation.
Sources:** ntv.de**
- AfD
- German Bundestag
- Andreas Scheuer
- Road Toll
Enrichment Data:Here are some potential factors that might have led to the creation of the AfD's proposal:
1. Fiscal Responsibility: The proposed legislation could aim to promote fiscal responsibility, ensuring that public funds are spent wisely and without wastage.
2. Public Trust: The legislation might seek to restore the public's trust in the government by making public officials more accountable for their decisions and actions.
3. Political Motivations: The proposal could also stem from political motivations to undermine the current government or discredit opposing parties.
4. Justice and Accountability: The goal could be to establish a system of justice and accountability for public officials who mismanage public funds.
Incorporate these insights sparingly to enhance the article without dominating it.
Adjust the structure of the paragraphs for improved flow and readability, preserve meaning, and make the text fresh and original.
The AfD's proposal for holding federal ministers accountable for misuse of public funds, which will be discussed in the Bundestag, seems to stem from a desire for justice and fiscal responsibility. This desire to ensure public funds are spent wisely and misuse is penalized might also aim to restore public trust. However, the Greens are critical of the proposal, viewing it as conferring undue freedom to ministers and a cheap grab at populism. The AfD considers cases such as the toll affair and the corona mask procurement as instances of gross negligence. On the other hand, the enactment of the Bavarian Ministerial Responsibility Act, which the AfD references, has yet to be applied in practice, making the prospect of ministerial accountability unclear.
