Delving into Dispute: AfD Demands Accountability for Misuse of Public Funds by Ministers
Far-right political party AfD seeks accountability from Minister due to waste matters
By Tom Kollmar (Contact)| Facebook| Twitter| Whatsapp| Print**| Copy Link
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has suggested a bill to take ex-ministers to court in cases of intentional or gross negligence, leading to the misuse of public funds[1]. The proposal will be debated in the Bundestag this Thursday evening. According to the draft, ministers would be held liable for any breaches of duty that cause damage to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The proposal has attracted criticism from various quarters, with the Greens arguing that it proposes a level of freedom for ministers that does not exist[1]. Lukas Benner, a member of the legal committee, points out that federal ministers are already criminally liable if they intentionally commit fraud or intentionally harm the treasury. The legal punishment has deliberately high hurdles, but according to Benner, there was no "deliberately state-damaging intent" in instances such as the toll debacle involving Andreas Scheuer[1].
The proposed bill cites instances of state decisions resulting in significant financial losses, such as the procurement of coronavirus masks by the former Federal Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, and the toll affair involving Alexander Dobrindt and Andreas Scheuer[1]. The AfD sees at least gross negligence in these cases, attributing the losses to ideological reasons[1].
Accusations of Populism or Desire for "Revenge Justice"?
The proposal has raised questions about whether the AfD's motivation is populism or a quest for "revenge justice" if they come to power[2]. Their report, classified as a secure right-wing extremist organization by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, includes numerous quotes that can be interpreted as threats against political decision-makers[2]. For instance, Björn Höcke, Thuringian state chairman, was quoted as saying, "When we come, we'll clean up. Then we'll clear out."[2]
The AfD claims that its draft bill is modeled on the Bavarian Minister Law, which holds ministers accountable for gross negligence or intentional misconduct[1]. However, this law has yet to be applied in practice[1]. Critics suggest that proving criminality may be difficult, especially in cases where decisions were made under extraordinary circumstances[1].
It is worth noting that the AfD does not plan to hold its party leadership accountable for misused funds[1]. In April, the party precautionarily deposited 2.35 million euros with the Bundestag administration due to fears of a fine following a suspected illegal party donation[1].
- Sources:
- ntv.de
- bundespraesidium.de
- Related Topics:
- AfD
- Government Misconduct
- Public Funds
- Political Accountability
- Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The Commission may also be tasked to propose a directive on the protection of workers from the risks arising from the use of electronic devices in the context of policy-and-legislation and general-news, as governments grapple with accountability for misuse of public funds by ministers.[1] The proposal by the AfD to hold ex-ministers liable for intentional or gross negligence in misappropriating public funds is a topic of ongoing debate amidst allegations of populism and desire for "revenge justice."[1]
[1] Policy-and-Legislation, General-News, AfD, Accountability, Misuse of Public Funds, Politics.
