German prosecutors raid party offices over suspected illegal bonus payments

Authorities in Germany’s eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt have launched an investigation into alleged illegal bonus payments made to officials within several parliamentary groups.

On the morning of July 1, prosecutors and criminal police carried out coordinated raids on the offices of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), and Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the state parliament building in Magdeburg, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The searches were conducted under court orders issued by the Magdeburg District Court and were led by the State Criminal Police Office in cooperation with the local public prosecutor’s office. A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office confirmed to the dpa news agency that the action was based on suspicions of breach of trust.

The investigation stems from a formal complaint submitted by Germany’s Taxpayers’ Association, which raised concerns that parliamentary group officials may have unlawfully paid themselves bonuses in violation of public trust and budgetary rules.

While the searches continued throughout the morning, the prosecutor’s office refrained from disclosing further details. Representatives from the CDU, SPD, and AfD parliamentary groups also declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The Green Party, which is not among the parties targeted in the raids, issued a statement emphasising the need for full transparency.

“Trust in political institutions can only be built through legally compliant and comprehensible actions,” said Olaf Meister, parliamentary manager for the Greens in Saxony-Anhalt. “Anyone who undermines this trust harms the entire parliament.”

By Sabina Mammadli