According to research by Bayerischer Rundfunk, the AfD in the Bavarian state parliament is said to employ more people from the right-wing extremist spectrum than previously known. There were other names on an internal telephone list “who were or are active in right-wing extremist groups,” it said. Among them is an activist from the right-wing extremist “Identitarian Movement”. Further cases are said to concern fraternities relevant to the protection of the constitution.
State Parliament President Ilse Aigner (CSU) recently made it public that the State Parliament was aware of four to five cases “according to which there are employees of MPs who belong to organizations that are clearly classified as unconstitutional.” However, she could not comment on details because of the free mandate.
A spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group said on Wednesday in response to a dpa request that information about employees was subject to data protection. According to BR, AfD MP Benjamin Nolte is one of the parliamentarians who employs the relevant people. When asked by the broadcaster, he welcomed the fact that employees were involved in “patriotic frontline organizations.”
Aigner recently said that she had checked whether relevant employees of parliamentary groups and MPs could be denied their salary in the future. However, the state parliament office has no control over this; a legal opinion should now provide clarity. Ultimately, only a reform of the law on representatives could close this gap. However, it is unacceptable that “enemies of the constitution are paid with tax money”.