The German right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has introduced a bill in the Bundestag that seeks to cut off public funding for NGOs that are politically affiliated. The proposed amendment to the Federal Budget Code aims to prohibit financial support for what the party calls “front organizations” of political parties.
The AfD argues that taxpayer money should not be used to indirectly support political advocacy disguised as an NGO. “The principle of state neutrality requires that the government not use taxpayer money to finance a political front that influences public opinion in favor of a political party,” the bill’s justification states.
Bernd Baumann, AfD’s parliamentary director, defended the proposal by pointing to groups that he claims are biased against his party: “This also applies to organizations that incite hatred against us.”
Previously, CDU/CSU submitted 551 formal questions to the federal government, seeking transparency about which organizations were receiving public funds. Their list included several left-leaning or activist groups such as German Environmental Aid or Greenpeace.
While the Greens, SPD, and Left Party expressed outrage at what they saw as an attack on civil society, the CDU/CSU’s inquiry had no immediate consequences. The federal government continues to fund many of the named organizations.
