A delegation of members from the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is set to travel to New York for a multi-day series of political discussions, prompting scrutiny over the substantial public expense involved. According to an AfD parliamentary spokesperson, the trip, scheduled for this week, will incur costs estimated at €57,000, funded directly from the party’s parliamentary group budget within the German Bundestag.
The Bundestag administration has confirmed the funding source, acknowledging that the travel is being covered by the AfD’s dedicated funds. However, concerns are mounting that the actual expenditure may exceed initial projections. In addition to the eight Bundestag representatives, a further seven members of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament and several members of the European Parliament are also reportedly joining the delegation, potentially escalating the overall cost.
While a spokesperson for the Saxony-Anhalt parliament’s AfD group has assured that travel expenses will be settled according to standard parliamentary regulations and submitted for reimbursement, the scale of the planned expenditure has drawn criticism. An anonymous source within the Magdeburg parliament estimates the cost for the Saxony-Anhalt contingent alone could reach €50,000.
The timing of the trip, coupled with the considerable outlay, has raised questions regarding the political motivations and prioritization of resources within the AfD. Critics suggest the delegation’s visit may be intended to cultivate a specific image or engage in activities that align with the party’s increasingly nationalistic and Eurosceptic agenda, rather than contributing to productive dialogue on pressing international issues. The transparency and justification for such high-cost travel will likely face further interrogation in the coming days, placing added pressure on the AfD to demonstrably account for the utilization of taxpayer funds.
