After various civil society organizations were called upon to participate in the Brandmauer demonstrations, the Union is now questioning the allocation of funding to these organizations. The demonstrations were sparked by the Union’s initial willingness to accept the AfD’s votes as decisive in the Bundestag.
In a written question submitted to the federal government, CDU leader Friedrich Merz and his faction argue that the protests against the CDU represent a targeted and political influence on the eve of the next federal election, which is no longer covered by the non-profit law. They pose over 500 questions to the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, the German Environmental Aid, Omas against the Right, Greenpeace and other non-governmental organizations.
Similar question catalogues to civil society organizations have been submitted by the AfD in the past on a state level. Merz and his faction maintain that state-funded organizations must uphold their political neutrality.
Government programs, such as “Democracy lives” typically allocate state funds for specific projects of civil society organizations. In Germany, organizations with mixed or primarily private financing are generally allowed to take a political stance, as long as no state funds are misused.
The Greens sharply criticized the question catalog of the Union’s faction regarding the financing of non-governmental organizations. “This question barrage against unwanted organizations is overbearing” said Sven Giegold, a member of the Green Party’s federal executive board, to the Spiegel. “The ministerial apparatus is being misused to monitor the civil society.”
It is “clearly an intimidation attempt, even before Merz’s chancellorship has begun” Giegold added. “This reminds me of the methods of Viktor Orbán and other authoritarian governments, which restrict the space of civil society.