By Elias Sedlmayr
AfD members are very reluctant to pay broadcasting fees for ARD and ZDF. So far, so well known. But now it comes out: The payment behavior for the party contributions also leaves a lot to be desired for many AfD members.
► The proof: The application book for the upcoming AfD party conference in Magdeburg (from Friday). The federal board of the party around the party leaders Alice Weidel (44) and Tino Chrupalla (48) now wants to put a stop to the stinginess with a series of applications.
Is the AfD a cheapskate party?
Specifically, the party leadership is calling for the so-called delegate key at party congresses to be calculated on the basis of “paying members”.
► The delegate key determines which AfD state association may send how many delegates to a federal party conference. The following applies: the more delegates, the more votes, the more power.
The number of members in the individual national associations is decisive for the delegate key. Whether these members actually paid their dues has not played a role so far, but this is about to change.
Although the decision is not to come into force until after the European elections next year, it should already be adopted for the upcoming federal party conference.
Possible calculus: bogus members, with which state associations can artificially inflate themselves, should have a harder time in the future – at least have to pay.
And in general: misers will no longer have anything to report in the future…
Stinginess dispute about EU MPs
The party executive also demands that the nine AfD MEPs pay their mandate fee (additional contribution to the membership fee) to the party on a monthly basis in future.
► Problem: So far, it was not clearly regulated in which rhythm the mandate fee was to be paid. Therefore, some MEPs shirked a monthly transfer, which should now be over.
Low point so far in the crazy money Zoff: Against the EU MP Nicolaus Fest (61), the AfD federal executive unanimously decided on a party expulsion procedure “due to continued non-payment of his dues due to elected officials” (733 euros/month).
Party entry only with payment
Another motion aims to ensure that members are not admitted to the party until they have actually paid their dues.
Up until now, anyone who wanted to become an AfD member could join without having to pay a fee. This probably led to massive abuse and late payment.
Counter-motion to stop overdue fines
Other AfD delegates are apparently upset about the impending reminder fees for unpaid contributions. In an application, they are now demanding “not to ask for a reminder fee in the case of reminders for late contribution invoices”. Means: The party should not demand fines against contribution truants.
The gruff tone when it comes to money also annoys the applicants. They demand: Written reminders should be formulated “certainly, but appreciatively and friendly towards the members”.
Money claim against ex-boss Meuthen?
The AfD also continues to deal with the donation affair. Spicy: The party is apparently considering demanding recourse against its ex-chairman Jörg Meuthen (62), who has since left the party.
In addition, the AfD wants to inform its members at the party conference about how much money they had to pay as a result of the donation scandal. In May, the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court dismissed an appeal against a fine of 396,000 euros.
The party has not yet responded to BILD’s request about the payment behavior of its members’ contributions and whether the AfD has a financial problem.