Germany’s Communist Party has accused financial institutions of politically motivated repression after being informed that its bank accounts will be closed at the end of the year.
Earlier this month, GLS Bank notified the German Communist Party (DKP) that all of its accounts would be terminated effective December 31. The party said no detailed explanation was provided, although the bank had previously sought information about a DKP fundraising campaign supporting Cuba.
GLS Bank said the decision was based on legal and regulatory obligations it must comply with. The DKP rejected that explanation, calling the move “clearly politically motivated”.
Klaus Leger, head of the party’s finance committee, said bank representatives indicated during a phone conversation that external pressure may have influenced the decision, rather than it being a purely internal choice by the bank.
The account closures come amid a series of similar actions affecting journalists and political organisations across Germany. In November, GLS Bank closed the business account of freelance journalist Aya Velazquez, while Sparkasse Karlsruhe reportedly terminated the account of journalist Flavio von Witzleben.
Earlier this year, Berliner Sparkasse froze the account of a Jewish anti-Zionist group, Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East. Several cooperative banks have also closed accounts linked to the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, which likewise described the decisions as politically driven.
The developments follow increased government focus on extremism. In February 2024, then interior minister Nancy Faeser announced measures aimed at making it easier for authorities to freeze extremist bank accounts and track donations, prompting concerns that such powers could be applied more broadly than intended.
