The AfD intends to review the employment of relatives of its politicians as parliamentary faction staff – a measure that would be financed by taxpayers. On Wednesday Bernd Baumann, the AfD’s first parliamentary manager of the Bundestag faction, assured viewers of the TV channel “Welt” that the party had complied with all legal requirements. He added that they were following up on press reports at both state and federal levels: “We’re looking into it, we’re inspecting it”.
Baumann also left open the possibility of tightening internal rules. He noted that the situation was “not as bad as it was in 2013 for the CSU, when 79 state parliamentarians hired first‑degree relatives”. The CSU subsequently tightened its own regulations, and the AfD might do the same if deemed necessary.
When asked what the review really concerns, Baumann clarified that it’s not about whether a relative is employed. “What matters is that the law is obeyed and that the people perform their duties. If they work effectively, that’s fine” he said. “But it must not overall dominate the picture”.
He defended the hiring of Ulrich Siegmund, the father of the AfD’s lead candidate in the Saxony‑Anhalt state election, to work in the office of Bundestag MP Thomas Korell. According to Baumann, the faction faces serious difficulties attracting staff: of 200 full‑time and part‑time positions, 71 are currently unfilled. “We have major problems because the climate has been poisoned by our opponents” he explained. “People fear listing AfD on their résumé”. Moreover, faction staff must be trustworthy to avoid infiltration by left‑wing radicals. “To keep the office staffed, some of us may have had to rely on familiar individuals” Baumann added.