On the list of party donations of the German Bundestag, where Dingler is named, his donation was estimated at around 2.35 million euros. It was received by the AfD on February 1st.

Ex-FPÖ Party Official Made Million-Dollar Donation to AfD

ORF Radio Vorarlberg quoted on Monday from a statement by Dingler. He stated that he did not transfer cash to the AfD. Instead, he provided the party with 6,400 election posters for the federal election on February 23. As motivation for his support of the AfD, which is classified in parts as right-wing extremist, Dingler said that he was very worried about a further escalation of the war in Ukraine. The only party that, in his opinion, credibly advocates for peace in Germany is the AfD. Dingler resigned from the state management of the Vorarlberg Freedom Party in 2016. He was initially unreachable for the APA.

Donation from Private Wealth

NDR and WDR first reported on the donation on Sunday. Questions about whether he was the actual donor and whether he used his own money to finance the entire campaign were answered by Dingler over the phone. The donation came from his private wealth. Dingler referred the German media to a statement signed with "Club of Friends and Supporters of Peace and Security". Despite some statements he disagreed with, he decided to support the AfD. The club is a foundation with friends from business and politics.

The current state manager of the FPÖ, Dominik Hagen, stated on APA request on Monday, Dingler is still a party member of the FPÖ, but has not held any functions for over eight years. Hagen ruled out a connection between the donation and the FPÖ Vorarlberg.

"If there was any doubt that the FPÖ Vorarlberg is not also moving on the far right like its big brother in the federation, then the election donation in the millions made public today by a long-time FPÖ state manager to the AFD provided the overdue proof", the Vorarlberg SPÖ delegate Reinhold Einwallner stated. Whether FPÖ in the federation or in Vorarlberg - the FPÖ endangers "our democratic basic values", Einwallner saw a coalition with the Freedom Party as "extremely dangerous".

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article .