Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is facing intense scrutiny over the backgrounds of its newly elected state parliamentarians in Saxony-Anhalt, days after winning a historic 44% of seats in the eastern state's parliament. Among the 39 incoming MPs presented at a photocall in Magdeburg, the state capital, are a former officer of the Stasi — East Germany's feared communist-era secret police — a man alleged to have appeared in pornography films and falsified his academic qualifications, and several members under criminal investigation for alleged ties to neo-Nazi organisations. Two MPs face investigations over suspected involvement in Artgemeinschaft, a banned neopagan group with nationalist and antisemitic ideologies.

The revelations have drawn sharp condemnation from opponents. When asked about the questionable records of some members, AfD parliamentary group leader Ulrich Siegmund referred to the men in jest as