Overview
- The governing Union and SPD convened an Aktuelle Stunde on 5 November to scrutinize how the AfD’s relationship with Russia may affect Germany’s security interests, with leaders signaling a tougher parliamentary approach.
- Senior lawmakers, including Defence Committee chair Thomas Röwekamp, warned that a series of highly detailed AfD inquiries into critical infrastructure and Bundeswehr capabilities could benefit foreign powers such as Russia.
- Parliamentary records show the AfD submitted 52 granular questions on drone capabilities in June, with parts of the government’s replies withheld or classified for security reasons.
- A Berlin administrative court ruled last week that a personalized Bundestag pass may be denied to an AfD staffer due to Russia-linked contacts that posed credible risks to the parliament’s functioning.
- New reporting details planned mid‑November trips to Sochi by AfD MPs Steffen Kotré and Rainer Rothfuß with caucus-approved budgets, as party leaders urge caution on optics and publicly reject allegations of serving Russian interests.