A new funding law, passed at the end of 2023, allows political foundations to receive government support if their affiliated party has been consistently represented in the Bundestag.

This law emerged after a February 2023 Constitutional Court ruling that mandated clearer funding criteria for political foundations.

The law stipulates that funded foundations must promote democratic values and international understanding, with funding set to take effect in 2026.

The DES has submitted a funding application for nearly 18 million euros annually from the Federal Ministry of the Interior starting in 2026.

If successful, the DES plans to use the funding to organize up to 1,200 events annually, hire 70 staff members, and establish a scholarship program for talented students affiliated with the AfD.

Erika Steinbach, the chairperson of the foundation, asserts that they have a right to funding and expects approval from the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Currently, other political foundations receive substantial funding from the federal budget, totaling in the hundreds of millions of euros annually, while the DES has not received any funding to date.

Prior to this, the DES has challenged the lack of funding in court, which led to the recent legal framework for funding criteria.

Steinbach defends the foundation's eligibility for funding, arguing that only the Federal Constitutional Court can determine constitutional violations, despite the AfD being labeled as right-wing extremist.

Before approving funding, the Federal Ministry of the Interior must assess whether the foundation upholds democratic principles and promotes international understanding.

The Desiderius-Erasmus-Stiftung (DES), affiliated with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is seeking state funding following the party's third consecutive entry into the Bundestag.

Dietmar Bartsch, a representative from the Left party, advocates for withholding funds until the court ruling regarding the AfD's classification is finalized.