Search in the Magdeburg state parliament: suspected infidelity in factions!

Search in the Magdeburg state parliament: suspected infidelity in factions!

On Tuesday morning, the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt caused excitement: Investigators searched the fraction rooms of the CDU, SPD and AfD in Magdeburg. This was based on judicial orders and was supported by the State Criminal Police Office. The reason for these searches? The suspicion of inadmissible allowances to MPs and possible unfaithfulness that are related to the remuneration of parliamentary functions. Investigations by an advertisement by the federal taxpayer were triggered in November 2023.

Background of the processes is a parliamentary reform from 2020, which reformed the regulations on functional allowances. Since then, additional compensation may only be paid to certain officials such as the President of the Landtag or parliamentary group leader. Nevertheless, there were apparently inadmissible payments, as noted from taz . The CDU parliamentary group is said to have paid for allowances of 113,250 euros between 2021 and 2022, although this has not been allowed since the reform.

reactions and support for the investigation

The SPD parliamentary group has already abolished the allowances for its deputy parliamentary group leader in 2021 and supports the current investigations by the public prosecutor, while the AfD vehemently rejects the allegations of infidelity. So far, the CDU has not commented on the allegations. In a report by MDR it can be read that the state parliament president Gunnar Schellenberger (CDU) has approved the search after a legally check. He emphasized that the examination of the financial integrity of the parliament only serves to control the evidence and not the legal test.

The amount of the inadmissible payments varies depending on the faction: In 2021, the CDU identified payments of 66,000 euros, the AfD documented around 25,600 euros and the SPD just under 7,500 euros. All other factions adhered to the new regulations and did not lead any additional payments in the invoices to taz .

outlook on the investigation

It remains unclear whether and when these investigations will lead to criminal consequences. Critics, including members of the left and the Greens, require transparency and the clarification of the allegations. In particular, the CDU is confronted with a violent storm of criticism, since the Landeslechungshof had already explained in the past year that such allowances were not compatible with the MEP. pointed out that the public prosecutor's office initially hired a procedure, but the Attorney General, however, lifted this decision and demanded a new examination.

While the debate continues, the public focus is on the political groups. Whether the allegations lead to serious consequences is still in the stars.