AfD Saxony-Anhalt Forms Committee to Review Hiring Practices Amid Nepotism Allegations

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Saxony-Anhalt has established a dedicated committee to examine employment arrangements within its parliamentary group following ongoing allegations of nepotism. The committee, led by state parliament member Gordon Köhler, is tasked with evaluating current hiring practices and recommending improvements to ensure transparency and compliance with legal requirements.

Recent scrutiny has emerged around the hiring of relatives by AfD lawmakers across several German states. Critics have pointed to instances where family members of party officials have been employed in parliamentary offices, raising concerns about the potential misuse of public funds and conflicts of interest. While the AfD leadership in Saxony-Anhalt maintains that all employment contracts comply with existing legal standards, the party has acknowledged the need to address public concerns by re-evaluating its internal guidelines.

The newly formed committee will not only review existing employment contracts but will also assess regulations implemented in other federal states to identify best practices. Its mandate includes the preparation of policy recommendations aimed at preventing further controversy and promoting fair hiring within the party's parliamentary operations. The AfD state leadership has emphasized that the committee will focus on ensuring clarity and legal conformity in all future employment decisions.

Calls from some party members for a special convention to address these allegations have been declined, with the leadership opting instead for the committee approach to manage the situation internally. The decision reflects the party's intention to handle the matter through structured review rather than large-scale party meetings, which could attract additional public attention.

The issue of nepotism is not limited to Saxony-Anhalt. Across Germany, several AfD politicians have faced similar accusations. In Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, multiple relatives of the AfD legislator Damian Lohr are reportedly employed within the party's parliamentary offices. Comparable cases have been reported in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, where the state party leader is said to have hired both his current spouse and former wife in positions funded by public resources. In Baden-Württemberg, the party's lead candidate has also faced scrutiny over alleged favoritism in hiring practices. Additionally, reports indicate that AfD co-chair Tino Chrupalla has employed the spouse of a fellow party member, further fueling the ongoing debate.

In a related development, Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's lead candidate for the upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, is under investigation for allegedly failing to properly disclose his business activities to the state parliament administration. Siegmund has denied any wrongdoing, stating that all relevant information about his business interests has been reported in accordance with disclosure requirements. The parliament's administration has confirmed that a review process has been initiated to determine compliance with the rules governing outside employment and financial interests of lawmakers.

As the state election in Saxony-Anhalt approaches, the AfD continues to face heightened scrutiny over its internal practices. The party's leadership has reiterated its commitment to upholding legal standards and enhancing transparency to restore public trust. The outcome of the committee's review and any subsequent reforms are likely to influence public perception as voters prepare to head to the polls.