Federal Constitutional Court: Karlsruhe stops higher party funding

Status: 01/24/2023 10:25 a.m

The upper limit of state funds for the parties was increased by 25 million euros in 2018. The Federal Constitutional Court has now overturned this surcharge. The legislature must break down and justify the additional expenditure much more precisely.

By Klaus Hempel, ARD legal department in Karlsruhe

In 2018, the Bundestag, with the votes of the Union and SPD, decided that all parties should receive more money from the state. The upper limit of state party funding was increased by 25 million euros. This was justified with increased costs in the course of digitization – for example for more staff who take care of social media.

In its decision, the Federal Constitutional Court also assumes that digitization can lead to higher expenses. The increase in state funds is nevertheless unconstitutional.

Greens, FDP and Left had sued

If the legislature wanted to give the parties more money, they would have to justify this very precisely and break down the additional expenditure. But this did not happen. In addition, the savings made by the parties as a result of digitization were not taken into account.

The constitutional court thus agreed with the factions of the Greens, FDP and Left, who had complained against the increase. The AfD faction had filed its own lawsuit. Her accusation: the legislative process at the time was carried out too quickly. The Constitutional Court will announce its verdict on this lawsuit this afternoon.

File number: 2 BvE 5/18 and 2 BvF 2/18

source site