Man of AfD Politician Works for Bundestag Member - AfD under fire for hiring politicians' relatives ahead of key elections
Thuringia's AfD politicians have largely voiced criticism of cross-employment practices within their party. Yet the husband of one Thuringian AfD lawmaker works for a federal AfD MP.
The husband of Wiebke Muhsal, an AfD member of Thuringia's state parliament, is employed by Stefan Schröder, an AfD member of the German Bundestag. Schröder confirmed to reporters that Muhsal's husband works as a research assistant in his office. The news first emerged in Politico's Inside AfD podcast. Schröder told the podcast: "Since the start of this legislative term, he has been employed in my Bundestag office based on his professional training and qualifications." Muhsal reportedly stated: "Employment in parliamentary offices is governed by the applicable legal framework." Schröder later told the German Press Agency (dpa) that the employee holds a doctorate in philology.
The AfD has recently faced multiple cases in which relatives of party politicians were hired by other Bundestag members. Such appointments have drawn particular attention in Saxony-Anhalt, where state elections are set for September.
Muhsal serves as parliamentary manager for the AfD's Thuringia faction, led by Björn Höcke. In recent days, Thuringia's AfD representatives have at times criticized so-called cross-hiring arrangements. Höcke himself shared a post on social media by far-right ideologue Götz Kubitschek, who wrote on the issue: "Window-dressing isn't enough—you have to clean house." Thuringia's AfD co-chair Stefan Möller even proposed amendments to the party's bylaws at a federal conference.
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