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The German judiciary launched two preliminary investigations on Wednesday against MEP Maximilian Krah from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party over alleged payments from Russia and China for his work in the Parliament.
“On 18 April 2024 the public prosecutor’s office in Dresden initiated a preliminary investigation against MEP Dr Maximilian Krah for alleged Russian payments for his work as an MEP,” Patrick Pintaske, a spokesperson for the public prosecutor in Dresden, told POLITICO in a written statement.
“In addition, the public prosecutor’s office in Dresden is conducting a second investigation against MEP Dr Maximilian Krah in connection with alleged Chinese payments for his work as an MEP,” he said, adding that the investigations only examine whether initial suspicions of bribery can be substantiated under the German Criminal Code.
The proceedings add to the building pressure on Krah to step down as the AfD’s top candidate in the EU election in June. Earlier this week German police arrested one of Krah’s parliamentary aides over claims he spied for China.
Krah, however, said he’s going nowhere. “If you think this is the end of my candidacy, then I have to disappoint you,” the MEP said on Wednesday, adding: “I am and will remain the lead candidate.”
An official from the German electoral office confirmed to POLITICO that Krah cannot be removed from the AfD’s list at this stage as it has already been approved.
Pauline Von Pezold and Hans von der Burchard contributed reporting.
