CSU Lawmaker Disrupts AfD’s Attempt to Defund Anti-Extremism Foundation
BERLIN – A pointed question from CSU Bundestag member Stefan Müller during a Wednesday debate effectively derailed an AfD motion seeking to halt federal funding for the Amadeu antonio Foundation, a key organization combating right-wing extremism in Germany. The AfD’s attempt to initiate a parliamentary inquiry into the foundation’s finances and activities was widely seen as a politically motivated “culture war” tactic, but stalled after Müller challenged the party to specify which concrete funding guidelines they alleged the foundation had violated.
the motion, documented as 21/2709 on the Bundestag website, accused the Amadeu Antonio Foundation of potential ties to extremist groups, misuse of funds, and partisan bias. The AfD proposed ending all federal funding from 2026 and demanded a review of past funding with potential clawbacks. however, Müller’s direct questioning exposed a lack of specific evidence supporting the AfD’s claims, prompting a referral of the motion to relevant committees for further review – a move that substantially diminishes its immediate impact.
SPD MP Felix Döhring explained that the AfD targeted the foundation because it “came out very early and very clearly” that the AfD is a right-wing extremist party.Döhring emphasized, according to reports, that the foundation’s projects are publicly accessible, professionally tested, and scientifically evaluated.
The Amadeu Antonio Foundation,established in 1991 in memory of Amadeu Antonio Kiwara,a Mozambican student murdered by right-wing extremists in Germany,supports projects aimed at strengthening democratic values and combating racism and antisemitism. The AfD’s motion reflects a broader pattern of attacks on civil society organizations perceived as opposing its political agenda. The debate marks the first time the Bundestag has formally discussed a motion to ban the AfD, a topic gaining traction amid concerns over the party’s increasingly extremist rhetoric and policies.
