CDU/CSU Questions Neutrality of State-Funded NGOs in Parliamentary Inquiry

The opposition's detailed inquiry challenges the political neutrality and funding practices of organizations receiving public funds in Germany.

The CDU/CSU has submitted a parliamentary inquiry with 551 questions scrutinizing the neutrality of state-funded NGOs and their compliance with requirements for tax benefits.
Organizations like Correctiv, Netzwerk Recherche, and Neue Deutsche Medienmacher*innen are under scrutiny for their significant reliance on public funding and perceived political alignment.
The inquiry highlights concerns about the use of taxpayer money to support NGOs that may engage in politically partisan activities, such as anti-CDU demonstrations during elections.
Critics argue the inquiry is a veiled attack on civil society, while proponents claim it is a necessary step to ensure transparency and adherence to the principles of neutrality in public funding.
The debate underscores broader tensions over the role of NGOs in political advocacy and the boundaries of state support for civil society initiatives.