The German Bundestag on Thursday voted to lift parliamentary immunity for a second AfD (Alternative for Germany) parliamentarian, signaling a deepening scrutiny of the party’s conduct and raising questions about the limits of legislative privilege. The decision, passed without debate and with a resounding majority by CDU/CSU, SPD, the Greens and the Left party, paved the way for disciplinary proceedings against the unnamed AfD representative. Only one AfD parliamentarian voted against the motion, while the remainder of the party’s faction abstained.
The swift succession of immunity removals – following an earlier vote to strip MP Raimond Scheirich of his immunity, which resulted in subsequent searches – underscores a growing trend of parliamentary oversight targeting the AfD. While the Bundestag administration has remained tight-lipped regarding the specifics of the disciplinary proceedings involving the latest parliamentarian, the removal of immunity allows authorities to formally pursue investigations related to potential breaches of duty.
The dual decisions represent a significant challenge to the AfD, which has increasingly faced accusations of extremist leanings and questionable associations. Critics argue that the party has, at times, exploited parliamentary immunity to shield its members from legal accountability. The Bundestag’s actions underscore a broader political debate regarding the appropriate balance between the protection of parliamentary freedoms and the need to ensure adherence to the rule of law. Some legal scholars suggest that the Bundestag’s accelerated process, circumventing full debate, may invite future legal challenges, particularly if the proceedings against the AfD members are perceived as politically motivated.
The frequency of these immunity removals also raises concerns about the potential for politicization of parliamentary oversight, raising the question of whether the moves represent a legitimate effort to uphold legal standards or a targeted campaign against a specific political faction. The AfD has almost certainly to respond and to defend itself.