The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is facing scrutiny over the backgrounds of its prospective new MPs following its win in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to The Guardian.
Saxony-Anhalt Parliamentarians Backgrounds
Among the 39 parliamentarians representing constituencies across Saxony-Anhalt are a former East German Stasi officer, a former pornography actor, and members facing criminal investigations for their involvement in neo-Nazi organisations. German media reported that the former pornography actor was also convicted of stealing bedding in bulk from a hotel and was expelled from a university after being found to have falsified his school leaving certificate, though a court confirmed he had been a pornography actor after he contested a local newspaper’s claims, and the MP states he was readmitted following a legal challenge.
Artgemeinschaft Investigations
Two MPs face investigations into allegations they sought to continue the activities of Artgemeinschaft, a banned rightwing extremist neopagan group that embraced nationalist and antisemitic ideas. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the younger of the two is also alleged to have violated the law regarding weapons. Both men reject the allegations.
East German Ministry for State Security
Additionally, a 78-year-old former Stasi officer who won a direct mandate admitted to working for the East German Ministry for State Security, focusing on citizens who wanted to permanently emigrate. His role has drawn criticism from victim advocacy groups representing those affected by the former East German dictatorship. An investigation by the broadcaster ZDF also revealed that some AfD ministers-elect previously belonging to the parliamentary group had ties to rightwing extremist groups, including the outlawed Homeland-Loyal German Youth group, HDJ.
Ulrich Siegmund
Asked about these biographies, lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund—who was unanimously re-elected as the party’s parliamentary group leader—referred to the men in jest as the bad guys
and stated that we will await the results of the investigations and then discuss them
according to The Guardian.
