The German far-right party AfD transferred 107 kg of gold, valued at over €10 million, to a Liechtenstein depository in 2022.
Gold from a disputed inheritance
The gold, currently worth over €10 million, was inherited from Reiner Strangfeld, a Lower Saxony inventor who left his entire estate to AfD in 2018. Strangfeld’s relatives are challenging the will’s validity, citing his mental health struggles and psychiatric hospitalizations. The Bückeburg district court is investigating whether Strangfeld was fully competent when he drafted the will.
AfD defends its financial transparency
AfD claims it has not hidden any assets and has always complied with party financing laws. The party argues that it is not required to disclose the location of its assets, including the gold, as long as they are reported in financial statements. German law does not impose special requirements for foreign assets held by political parties.
Strangfeld’s fortune and inventions
Strangfeld, who died in 2018, amassed his wealth through numerous inventions, including innovative toilet flush systems. The German Patent and Trademark Office lists over 100 patents under his name. The AfD received €9.9 million from his estate, the largest single donation in German political history.
Unclear motives for gold transfer
The reasons behind AfD’s decision to move the gold to Liechtenstein remain unclear. The party declined to comment on the gold’s location. Carsten Hütter, AfD’s national treasurer, stated that the location of the party’s assets is irrelevant as long as they are properly reported.
