Members of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) have employed over a hundred people from extremist right-wing circles who thereby gain access to the German parliament; a number higher than previously thought - as established by the Bayerische Rundfunk (BR) station.
AfD parliamentarians employ over 100 people associated with organizations and associations considered right-wing extremist by German constitutional protection agencies, including identitarians, representatives of the so-called New Right, and several neo-Nazis - according to a journalistic investigation by the Tagesschau portal.
The German Bundestag reports that as of the end of January, members of all parties employed about 5,600 people in total—2,600 in the constituencies and 3,000 in the Berlin offices.
According to the parliamentary administration’s most recent report from November 2022, there are 1,121 workers in the factions. This indicates that the AfD faction has 144 employees. However, the AfD claims to have 182 employees in response to a request from BR.
There are also hundreds of AfD members’ employees. Neither the Bundestag administration nor the AfD Bundestag faction provide information on this. According to BR research, more than 500 people work for the AfD faction and its members. The exact number is unclear.
“Among the employees of the parliamentary group (AfD) are people who are named in reports of constitutional protection agencies, including those who hold leading positions in organizations under observation,” Tagesschau emphasized.
Enemies to the constitution
Individuals associated with organizations classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as right-wing extremists are employed by more than half of AfD parliamentarians - including party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
AfD parliamentarians and their employees were asked for comments regarding the publication. “Most inquiries remained unanswered. Some MPs also questioned the independence of constitutional protection agencies,” Tagesschau noted.
Tagesschau emphasized that there are around 20 people associated with the extremist New Right environment working in the Bundestag - ideologically related to national socialism and neo-Nazism. Over 10 individuals from the identitarian environment were also identified.
Regional branches of the AfD in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have been classified as right-wing extremists by constitutional protection agencies.
“Dozens of members from these regional branches work for parliamentarians and the parliamentary group. Many of them also operate in other anti-constitutional structures,” Tagesschau added.
“Although the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution increasingly points out the unconstitutional nature of the AfD, and members of the government and opposition politicians are currently even discussing the possible banning of this party, the published findings for the first time showed to what extent the AfD provides access to the parliament to enemies of the constitution,” Tagesschau concluded.
The German Bundestag reports that as of the end of January, members of all parties employed about 5,600 people in total—2,600 in the constituencies and 3,000 in the Berlin offices.
According to the parliamentary administration’s most recent report from November 2022, there are 1,121 workers in the factions. This indicates that the AfD faction has 144 employees. However, the AfD claims to have 182 employees in response to a request from BR.
There are also hundreds of AfD members’ employees. Neither the Bundestag administration nor the AfD Bundestag faction provide information on this. According to BR research, more than 500 people work for the AfD faction and its members. The exact number is unclear.
“Among the employees of the parliamentary group (AfD) are people who are named in reports of constitutional protection agencies, including those who hold leading positions in organizations under observation,” Tagesschau emphasized.
Enemies to the constitution
Individuals associated with organizations classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as right-wing extremists are employed by more than half of AfD parliamentarians - including party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
AfD parliamentarians and their employees were asked for comments regarding the publication. “Most inquiries remained unanswered. Some MPs also questioned the independence of constitutional protection agencies,” Tagesschau noted.
Tagesschau emphasized that there are around 20 people associated with the extremist New Right environment working in the Bundestag - ideologically related to national socialism and neo-Nazism. Over 10 individuals from the identitarian environment were also identified.
Regional branches of the AfD in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have been classified as right-wing extremists by constitutional protection agencies.
“Dozens of members from these regional branches work for parliamentarians and the parliamentary group. Many of them also operate in other anti-constitutional structures,” Tagesschau added.
“Although the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution increasingly points out the unconstitutional nature of the AfD, and members of the government and opposition politicians are currently even discussing the possible banning of this party, the published findings for the first time showed to what extent the AfD provides access to the parliament to enemies of the constitution,” Tagesschau concluded.
Source: PAP, BR24
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