The German Bundestag has quietly and significantly restricted access for a number of individuals linked to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, revelations emerging that far exceed previous public knowledge. According to a report in “Der Spiegel”, the parliamentary administration denied seven individuals entry to the Bundestag through the withholding of official house passes during the current legislative period. Furthermore, access to the Bundestag’s IT systems was denied in two additional cases.
All those barred from the premises are reportedly connected to the AfD, though the parliamentary administration has declined to provide specific details citing security concerns. The “Spiegel” report suggests the reasons for denial are varied and serious, ranging from suspected affiliations with right-wing extremist groups and prior criminal convictions, to concerns regarding potentially compromising connections with Russia. The AfD parliamentary group confirmed the incidents to “Der Spiegel” but refrained from commenting on the specific allegations leveled against the affected individuals.
A particularly troubling aspect of the situation lies in the fact that these employees, despite being deemed security risks and denied access to the Bundestag, continue to receive salaries funded by taxpayer money. This anomaly allows them to technically remain employed by individual AfD parliamentarians, presenting a significant lapse in parliamentary oversight.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) has publicly acknowledged the problematic nature of this situation, describing it as a “regulatory gap” that urgently requires closure. In a letter to parliamentary factions, Klöckner emphasized the inherent contradiction of allowing individuals deemed a security risk to remain on the payroll and potentially continue working for parliamentarians. “No access due to serious security concerns, yet simultaneously an employment contract within the Bundestag funded by taxpayer money – this is a contradiction that is inexplicable to me” Klöckner stated.
Klöckner has now indicated her intention to propose amendments to the German parliamentary law (Abgeordnetengesetz) aimed at rectifying this loophole, effectively preventing individuals deemed security risks from receiving remuneration while simultaneously barred from parliamentary access. This move signals a growing concern within the Bundestag regarding the potential for undue influence and security vulnerabilities posed by individuals associated with extremist ideologies and potentially hostile foreign powers and raises questions about the robustness of existing security vetting processes. The initiative is likely to face considerable political debate and scrutiny, particularly given the AfD’s increasing prominence within the German political landscape.