Lament against CDU: Is the large donation of 800,000 euros illegal?

Lament against CDU: Is the large donation of 800,000 euros illegal?

On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The plaintiff is the "party for work, the rule of law, animal welfare, elite promotion and grassroots democratic initiative" (the party), while the defendant is the president of the German Bundestag. The focus is on whether the CDU can be committed to sanctions for two major donations from 2020.

The large donation that deals with is around 800,000 euros and was transferred to the Berlin CDU by the real estate entrepreneur Christoph Gröner and his company, shortly before the Department of 2021. These payments are classified by the plaintiff as inadmissible expectation donations, since public statements have given the impression that he would expect a consideration for the donation. Both Gröner and the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner rejected the allegations of influence, while the Bundestag administration considers the lawsuit inadmissible and argues that the prerequisites for intervention are not met.

Most important aspects of the negotiation

As part of the negotiation on September 30, the Court of Justice will raise evidence of the circumstances of the donations said. The request whether a competing party can request the administration are also discussed. The plaintiff calls on the administration to classify the donation as illegal and to impose sanctions against the CDU. Martin Sonneborn, who represents the party, was unable to take part in the last hearing for health reasons.

As early as May 22, 2025, the court negotiated the admissibility of the lawsuit. The result of this negotiation could have far -reaching consequences for party financing in Germany. It remains unclear whether a judgment will be made at the end of the hearing, which may increase public attention to the case.

Context and importance of party financing

The topic of party financing in Germany is of central importance. Parties are financed through state funds, membership fees, taxes of mandate and donations. Those who received at least 0.5 % (Bundestag or European elections) or 1 % (state elections) of the votes are entitled to state party financing. For donations that are over 10,000 euros, accounting reports must be drawn up, and donations over 35,000 euros must be reported and will be published immediately by the Bundestag president. This system is intended to ensure that transparency and fairness in political financing is guaranteed.

With 18.62 million euros in major donations that have received parties in 2024, the influence of wealthy individuals and companies on politics remains a controversial topic. Critics require a possible capacity of donations to protect equal opportunities and to prevent excessive influence through financial means. Therefore, the outcome of this lawsuit may not only be important for the CDU, but could also have far -reaching consequences for the entire system of party financing in Germany.

The modalities of the procedure stipulate that no accreditation is required. Camereration teams can be on site without a tripod and sound deficiency, but registration is recommended. These regulations emphasize the transparency of the procedure and enable the public to understand the course and the results of the negotiation.

The coming days will therefore show how the Berlin Administrative Court deals with this sensitive matter and whether the required measures are further intensified to check the origin and the conditions of party donations in Germany.