Leaders of the Alternative for Germany Party receive a notable boost in financial resources
In a recent development, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group has approved a new financial plan for the current legislative period, which includes increased allowances for its parliamentary group leaders and deputy leaders.
The exact amount of the taxable Bundestag allowance for the AfD parliamentary group leaders is around 12,000 euros, a significant increase from the previous 6,000 euros. This additional supplement replaces the previous allowance and is part of the financial plan that was unanimously approved by the AfD parliamentary group last Tuesday.
The deputy parliamentary group leaders and parliamentary business managers of the AfD will now receive an approximate monthly salary of 20,000 euros, including the supplement. The two leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, will receive an additional 12,000 euros per month, bringing their total monthly salary to approximately 24,000 euros.
The supplement for the rest of the 12-member parliamentary group leadership of the AfD has been doubled, amounting to approximately 6,000 euros per month. These allowances are intended for costs related to their mandate, including renting a constituency office, materials, taxi rides, hotel costs, or accommodation in Berlin.
It's important to note that these allowances are in addition to the members' allowance and are part of the overall parliamentary group funding. Parliamentary groups, including the AfD, receive their funds from the federal budget according to the Representation of the People Act. Around 123 million euros have been earmarked for all parliamentary groups in the Bundestag this year.
The supplements for parliamentary group leaders, including those for the AfD and other groups, are determined based on a formula involving a base amount plus a per-member supplement. The base amount and per-member supplement for opposition parties like the AfD receive an extra 15% and 10% respectively. This system ensures that parliamentary groups receive funding proportionate to their size and role in opposition, supporting their political activities and staffing needs.
This change in allowances for the AfD parliamentary group leaders has sparked political debates about the party's legitimacy and funding, given its classification as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" group. However, these classifications have not yet directly altered funding formulas.
The information about the increased supplements for the AfD parliamentary group leaders and the rest of the leadership was confirmed by a report from t-online to dpa upon request. The AfD's total parliamentary group funding, including these supplements, amounts to around €28.5 million, reflecting their status as a significant opposition party with 152 MPs.
These developments underscore the ongoing financial management and political debates surrounding the AfD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag.
The recent approval of the AfD's financial plan includes increased allowances for policy-and-legislation matters, with the parliamentary group leaders receiving an additional 12,000 euros per month, and the deputy parliamentary group leaders and parliamentary business managers receiving an approximate monthly salary of 20,000 euros. This funding fall under the general-news category, as it involves political decisions and financial management within the AfD group in the German Bundestag.
