Alternative for Germany | AfD involved in rental disputes

On the evening of the federal election, things were going downhill in the courtyard of the AfD's federal headquarters in Berlin-Reinickendorf. The far-right party had every reason to celebrate, and did so with gusto. This is now getting them into trouble. On Wednesday, the Berlin Regional Court announced that it had received an eviction notice from the AfD's landlord. The tenancy is to be terminated without notice due to "unreasonableness."

The AfD used the courtyard on election night, even though it is not rented by the party. The building's facade was also illuminated with AfD logos. The party did not have permission for this either. Furthermore, "access to the building was blocked by the police for hours, preventing other tenants from entering the building," according to the press release from the Berlin Regional Court. According to Bild, the extreme right-wing party is also accused of trespassing in the lawsuit, and the landlord describes the relationship as strained.

The AfD itself rejects the allegations and stated that it will defend itself legally. It believes it can fulfill the lease agreement, which runs until 2027. A party spokesperson told the Berliner Zeitung that it is willing to participate in mediation before a conciliation judge, as recommended by the regional court.

The party has shown little willingness to reach an amicable settlement in another legal dispute. The AfD's federal party conference took place at the Essen Trade Fair Center in June 2024. The fair and AfD had agreed on a lease in 2023. In May 2024, the city of Essen, the fair center being a subsidiary, demanded that the AfD sign a voluntary commitment that no criminal statements would be made at the party conference. Among other things, the commitment concerned the SA slogan "Everything for Germany." The AfD rejected the voluntary commitment, whereupon the trade fair center terminated the lease without notice. The party subsequently filed a lawsuit against the termination and won. The party conference was able to take place as planned.

However, this wasn't enough for the AfD. They filed criminal charges against Essen's mayor, Thomas Kufen, and the management of Messe Essen. The accusation: breach of trust. The city is said to have spent well over €200,000, including on an expert opinion on the likelihood of criminal statements at the party conference. The Essen public prosecutor's office initially investigated the allegations of breach of trust but dropped the investigation. Following a complaint from the Cologne law firm Höcker, which represents the AfD, the investigation was taken over by the Bochum public prosecutor's office for reasons of neutrality.

Last Wednesday, the Bochum public prosecutor's office confiscated cell phones and secured emails. In addition to Essen's mayor, the measures also affected Christian Kromberg, head of the public order department, Gerhard Grabenkamp, ​​city treasurer, and the management of Messe Essen. The individuals affected told ZDF that they had "naturally provided all requested documents" and were cooperating "fully" with the investigating authorities. According to the public prosecutor's office, the results of the investigation are not expected until after the North Rhine-Westphalian local elections in September.