German Court Rules AfD Politician Jens Maier Can Keep Pension Despite Disciplinary Case

The Leipzig judicial panel found insufficient grounds to strip the former judge and Bundestag member of his pension, though allegations of misconduct were partially upheld.

Jens Maier, a former judge and AfD politician, was allowed to retain his pension following a ruling by the Leipzig judicial disciplinary court.
The court determined that allegations of misconduct, including controversial public statements, did not warrant the maximum penalty of pension forfeiture.
Maier had been accused of violating judicial duties, such as making comments about Anders Breivik and a ZDF journalist that allegedly breached neutrality and constitutional loyalty obligations.
The ruling is not final, and the decision can still be appealed to a higher judicial disciplinary panel.
Maier, classified as a right-wing extremist by Saxony's intelligence agency in 2020, has been barred from serving as a judge since 2022 but continues to receive retirement benefits.