Bundestag election campaign
Reports on investigations after Groß donation to AfD
An Austrian patron has large posters with AfD advertising before the election in Germany. Media reports raise the question of whether the money really comes from him.
After the millions of donations in kind from an AfD supporter from Austria in the form of election posters, investigators in the neighboring country, according to media reports, check the origin of the money. According to research by “Spiegel”, “Standard” and ZDF, there is suspicion that it was only forwarded and could come from a third party.
The AfD rejects the reports. “As long as there is no evidence of the claims raised about a so -called straw man donation, there can be no question of a donation affair,” said treasurer Carsten Hütter. “I offer possibly investigating authorities to complete transparency and cooperation.”
According to the party law, parties may not accept donations “that are recognizable to forward a donation of a third party that is not mentioned”.
Large donation over 2.35 million euros
What is it about? At the beginning of the month, the Bundestag published a large donation to the AfD over just under 2.35 million euros. The Austrian Gerhard Dingler is mentioned as a donor. Donations of over 35,000 euros must be reported to the Bundestag immediately, which will then publish them. According to a report by the Austrian Radio of ORF, Dingler was formerly the state manager of the FPÖ in the state of Vorarlberg.
According to AfD, the donation was a donation in kind in the form of advertising posters for the AfD. Nationwide, more than 6,000 such posters were set up. They are kept in a striking yellow. Union, SPD and Greens are attacked in migration, energy or economic policy and the AfD is recommended as a “bourgeois alternative”. Hütter explained that Dingler had independently agreed this campaign with an “external service provider from North Rhine-Westphalia”.
Report on the gift of third
According to the research of “Spiegel”, “Standard” and ZDF, there is suspicion that the donor could have only forwarded the millions of transaction as a so -called straw man. According to reports, there should be investigations in Austria that he is said to have received a gift of a similar amount from a third party. Dingler has not yet been able to achieve a statement.
Check authorities in Austria
AUSTRIAS THE FILTION SPECIATION (FMA) tested the facts based on the media reports, said the spokesman for the authority of the German Press Agency. The FMA is responsible for monitoring regulations for the prevention of money laundering. The Feldkirch public prosecutor in the state of Vorarlberg confirmed the receipt of an advertisement for suspected money laundering. “This ad is now being checked,” said a spokesman. The authorities do not comment on who made the advertisement and who it applies.
AfD: stick to us strictly in legal requirements
AfD treasurer Hütter said: “Mr. Dingler has assured the party several times that the donation of kind was made from his private assets.” The spokesman for party leader Alice Weidel announced that the AfD strictly adheres to the legal requirements when receiving party donations. When asked by the Federal Party, the donor announced in advance that the donation came from his assets “and in particular not on behalf of third parties.”
High penalty payments in the case of illegal donations
If a party violates the donation requirements of the party law, it threatens her juicy penalty payments. If illegal donations are accepted, parties must also forward them to the Bundestag by the transfer of the accountability report of the year in question to the parliament. If this does not happen, the triple sum of this donation is due.
“So -called straw man donations are prohibited in Germany for a good reason, since they are disguising the actual donor and thus undermining the transparency of party financing,” said Sarah Schönewolf, spokeswoman for MPRNWATCH.de.
On request, the Bundestag administration said: “In the present case, there would be an inadmissibility of the donation if the reporting proves to be correct. This would lead to the fact that there would be a duty to forward the value of the poster campaign immediately. Procedure is currently not granted. ”
In the past, the AfD has been obliged several times by the Bundestag administration for illegal donations.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
