A majority of German citizens support a ban that would prevent lawmakers from hiring relatives of party friends as staff. The opinion comes from a Forsa poll conducted for “Stern” magazine and the RTL network. According to the results, 55 percent favor such a ban, while 39 percent want to allow the practice to continue; the remaining six percent said “I don’t know”.
The debate was sparked by recent revelations of similar employment arrangements, notably in the AfD state parliament group in Saxony‑Anhalt. Legally, it is still permissible to employ relatives in this way, but the practice is increasingly criticised as a potential form of indirect nepotism.
In response, Prime Minister Friedrich Merz (CDU) is considering tougher transparency rules and possibly legal restrictions. This discussion falls within a broader debate about integrity and trust in political institutions.