"When former Economy Minister Robert Habeck from the Green Party allowed friends or family members of his personnel to be hired back in 2023, AfD officials quickly accused him of "nepotism" and of fostering "clan criminality." The deputy federal chairman of the AfD, Stephan Brandner, spoke of a "mafia-like network," even though Habeck's personnel policy ultimately did not violate any laws or regulations."
"He is the AfD's leading candidate for September's state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where his party is currently polling at 40% and well ahead of its competitors. Siegmund is hoping to get enough voter support to form and then head the next government there. Now it has emerged that Ulrich Siegmund's father has been hired for a role in a Bundestag member's office, earning an annual salary of almost 100,000 ($119,000) a year."
The AfD projects an anti-establishment image but faces nepotism allegations after several Saxony-Anhalt state and federal parliamentarians employed relatives in colleagues' offices. Media reports indicate some relatives received substantial salaries funded by the state. The controversy has focused on Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's leading candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, whose father was hired into a Bundestag member's office with an annual salary near 100,000 euros. AfD figures previously accused other politicians of nepotism when friends and family were hired. Party officials contend trustworthy staff are hard to find, and the reported hiring practices are not illegal under current rules.
Read at www.dw.com
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