Austrian authorities are investigating the flow of money behind a large donation made to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to support its German election campaign, according to a joint investigation by the newspapers Spiegel and Standard.

A controversial donation to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has triggered an investigation by Austrian authorities. The €2.35 million contribution, made in early February, played a significant role in AfD’s campaign ahead of Germany’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Under the German Political Parties Act, "straw man" donations, where the actual donor's identity is concealed, are illegal. If the allegations are proven true, the AfD could face a fine of up to three times the amount of the illegal donation.