Start of trial - AfD and Saar state parliament argue before constitutional court
Before the Constitutional Court in Saarbrucken, the hearing between the AFD faction and the Saarland state parliament began. In the disputed issues, it concerns fraction subsidies and the composition of the investigative committee on the murder of an asylum seeker over 30 years ago.
The AFD faction criticizes the distribution of fraction subsidies in the state parliament's budgets for the years 2023 and 2024, which they claim violates their right to equal participation in parliamentary business.
According to the court president Roland Rixecker's statements, the monthly payments have decreased from 46,000 to 39,600 Euros after the "Zuschussbestandteile" weights were changed upon request from the SPD and CDU. Specifically, the base amount was reduced, while the opposition bonus and head amount were increased.
According to the CDU, it was about correcting an "imbalance" that had arisen due to a reduction in the faction size following the state election. The AFD faction's lawyer, Peter Richter, spoke against this, referring to it as a "Night and Fog" operation and arbitrary action. The CDU and SPD deputies were demanded by Richter to admit "that it was only about taking money away from the AfD because one cannot stand the AfD".
Another proceeding targets the resolution passed last year concerning the size and composition of the so-called Yeboah investigative committee. In focus is an arson attack in September 1991 on an asylum seeker home in Saarlouis, where the Ghanaian Samuel Yeboah lost his life. A decision is expected from the Constitutional Court within the next three months.
The AFD in Germany has been involved in a contentious issue with the Saarland parliament, specifically over the distribution of fraction subsidies for the years 2023 and 2024. The start of the trial in Saarbrucken's Constitutional Court has shed light on the alterations made to the "Zuschussbestandteile," leading to decreased monthly payments for the AFD faction. This change, initiated by the SPD and CDU, has sparked criticism from the AFD, who view it as a violation of their right to equal participation in parliamentary affairs.
The CDU, on the other hand, defended the adjustments as a corrective measure to address an imbalance resulting from a reduction in the faction size following the state election. However, AFD's lawyer, Peter Richter, has accused this action of being a secretive and arbitrary process, terming it a "Night and Fog" operation. He further demanded that the CDU and SPD deputies acknowledge that their primary motivation was to withhold funds from the AFD due to its political stance.
Separately, the Constitutional Court in Saarbrucken is also overseeing a different proceeding, which revolves around the composition and size of the Yeboah investigative committee. This resolution, passed last year, is under scrutiny due to an arson attack in 1991 on an asylum seeker home in Saarlouis, which led to the tragic death of Ghanaian Samuel Yeboah. A decision from the court regarding this case is anticipated within the next three months.
