Status: December 31, 2021 9:48 a.m.
The parties received more than twelve million euros from large donations in the Bundestag election year – but distributed very unevenly. While most of the money went to the FDP, the SPD only got 225,001 euros.
The election year brought the parties represented in the Bundestag a real blessing from large donations – albeit with major differences. From these donations of more than 50,000 euros, they received almost exactly 12.4 million euros, as the publication by the German Bundestag shows. For comparison: in the previous year, companies, trade associations and individuals only donated a good 2.2 million euros.
Classically, such large donations increase significantly in the years of the Bundestag election. However, this time they were particularly lush. For example, the income of the Bundestag parties from this source in the 2017 election year was around 6.59 million euros.
FDP received more than 4 million euros
This time the FDP had a particularly large number of patrons, with revenues of around 4.43 million euros. They are followed by the Greens with 3.44 million and the CDU with just under 3.39 million euros. The Union as a whole – i.e. CDU plus CSU – comes to around 4.26 million euros.
All other parties are far behind. The SPD only made three donations totaling 225,001 euros, the Left received 55,000 euros once. The AfD came out completely empty.
It was noticeable this year: The two largest donations, namely 1.25 million euros and one million euros, went to the account of the Greens. Behind are the FDP and CSU, each with a donation of 750,000 euros. The FDP also has the highest number of individual donors.
Lower disclosure threshold required
Political parties in Germany are mainly financed by membership fees, money from the state and donations. The parties must immediately report individual donations of over 50,000 euros to the President of the Bundestag, who must publish the information promptly. Donations that exceed EUR 10,000 per year must be recorded in the statement of accounts with the name and address of the donor and the total amount. It is forwarded to the President of the Bundestag.
The organization Transparency International criticized the existing regulations. “We are of the opinion that donations to the parties should be disclosed with a much lower threshold,” said the chairman of Transparency Germany, Hartmut Bäumer, of the dpa news agency. “The borders have to go down.” Donations should have to be published immediately from 2000 euros.
In addition to the relatively high income, the Union also has to accept losses. Because of their historically poor performance in the federal election in September, the CDU and CSU will receive considerably less income than before from state party funding. This is calculated, among other things, according to the votes.