AfD Politicians Earn Illegally from YouTube Videos

Members of the Bundestag from the AfD have generated unlawful income through the publication of their speeches on YouTube. The Bundestag administration found that the income resulted from advertising that preceded the videos. This practice was confirmed by both the Bundestag administration and the AfD parliamentary group to the editorial network Germany and the newspaper "Die Welt." The Bundestag administration received tips about this practice and informed the AfD parliamentary group, which subsequently requested a review. In a session of the Legal Status Committee, it was unequivocally stated that the monetization of plenary speeches violates the Members of Parliament Act.

Andrea Lindholz, the chairwoman of the committee, stated clearly: "From my perspective, it is completely clear that no additional income may be generated from plenary speeches." Initially, the AfD members were unaware of any wrongdoing. However, after the review, the group accepted the view of the Bundestag administration and urged its members not to "monetize political videos." This occurred after the legal framework was clearly outlined. Stephan Brandner, the second parliamentary manager of the AfD, admitted to having earned about 15,000 euros through advertising on YouTube over a period of approximately one and a half years. He initially believed this to be legal but came to realize that the situation should be assessed differently.

Brandner plans to repay the money earned. The Bundestag administration reported that there were "two or three" AfD members who earned "a few hundred euros" with their YouTube videos. This figure contrasts with Brandner's earnings and raises questions about transparency and compliance with legal requirements. Following the incidents, the AfD parliamentary group has sought clarification of the legal framework. The members were informed that the parliamentary compensation covers all mandate-related activities.

This means that additional income from the monetization of speeches is not permissible. The discussion about the monetization of political content on platforms like YouTube also raises broader questions about ethics and transparency in the political sphere. Experts are calling for clear regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future. The AfD has committed to repaying the income and ceasing the monetization of its political content. This decision was communicated in an internal message to the members.

The group sees itself as responsible for maintaining the integrity of the political office. The Bundestag administration will monitor compliance with these new guidelines. The legal consequences for the members who violated the Members of Parliament Act have not yet been conclusively clarified. A spokesperson for the Bundestag administration stated that the focus is on reviewing the income and the repayment of funds. The incidents have already led to a broad discussion about the role of social media in politics. The Bundestag administration plans to revise the guidelines for the use of platforms like YouTube to avoid future violations. A specific date for the publication of these new guidelines is still pending.