Political donations can play a major role in shaping election campaigns.
But sometimes, questions arise about where the money really comes from.
In Austria, officials are now investigating a €2.35 million donation made to Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), reports Hotnews.
The donation, made in early February, helped fund the party’s campaign ahead of the German parliamentary elections on February 23. The case has sparked concerns about potential financial misconduct.
The money came from Gerhard Dingler, a former official of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO).
He had served as the party’s general director in the state of Vorarlberg, which borders Switzerland and Germany, for 15 years.
However, an investigation by German and Austrian newspapers Der Standard and Spiegel suggests there may be more to the story.
Shortly before making the donation, Dingler reportedly received a payment of €2.6 million. This has raised suspicions that he was not donating his own money but acting as an intermediary for someone else.
Austrian authorities have now launched an investigation to determine the true source of the funds.
The AfD has denied any wrongdoing. Carsten Hutter, the party’s treasurer, stated that there was no reason to question the donation.
He also said that Dingler repeatedly assured them the money came from his personal assets.
However, if investigators find that the donation violated German laws on party financing, the AfD could face a fine of up to €7 million.
This is not the first time the AfD has been in trouble over campaign financing. In 2019, the German parliament fined the party more than €400,000 for breaking donation rules.
If similar violations are confirmed in this case, it could lead to serious legal and financial consequences for the party.
Meanwhile, Der Standard and Reuters report that Dingler has not responded to requests for comment.
The investigation is ongoing, and Austrian authorities are working to uncover the full story behind the controversial donation.
