Voigt: AfD is making the state its 'prey' - Thuringia's leader slams AfD over alleged nepotism in parliamentary hires
Germany's far-right AfD party is facing allegations of nepotism—and Thuringia's state premier has made his position clear.
In response to accusations of cronyism within the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Thuringia's Minister-President Mario Voigt (CDU) launched a scathing attack on the party. "These are people who must never be given a chance in this country because they treat the state as their prey," he declared during the CDU's traditional Ash Wednesday political rally in Apolda. He argued that prioritizing "positions and perks" over schools or jobs has nothing to do with decent politics—or patriotism.
The AfD has come under fire for hiring relatives of its lawmakers as parliamentary staff. While Germany's law on legislators already prohibits MPs from employing their own family members, partners, or ex-partners at taxpayer expense, the rules do not explicitly cover such hires in the offices of other lawmakers.
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