Germany has filed a request for mutual legal assistance with Switzerland with regard to potentially illegal donations made through a Swiss company to the far-upright Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The Swiss media reported in November that a pharmaceutical company in Zurich had donated more than €130000 (CHF148000) in several instalments to the AfD between July and September 2017. The money was allegedly meant for Alice Weidel’s election campaign. She has been co-leader of the AfD faction in the Bundestag,the German federal parliament, since October 2017. Weidel has a Swiss partner and a second home in Biel in northwestern Switzerland, and although in November she said she was giving up this home. German law only allows for party donations from external the European Union whether they are made by German citizens. Every campaign donation above €50000 needs to be immediately reported to parliaments president. Source unclear The Zurich-based pharmaceutical company has so far ...
Source: swissinfo.ch