The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has expelled its lead candidate in the EU elections, Maximilian Krah, from its delegation to the European parliament in an attempt to rebuild relationships with former allies in the assembly. Krah sparked outrage in Europe with comments suggesting not everyone in Hitler’s SS was a criminal. The move to eject Krah was a message to Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National, the dominant party in the far-right Identity and Democracy group in the European parliament. The hope is that this move will pave the way for the AfD to be readmitted into the group, though it may not be an easy endeavor.
During the inaugural meeting of the AfD delegation to the European parliament, a motion was passed to not accept Krah into their ranks. This decision was influenced by Krah’s controversial behavior and unreliability, including quarrels with European partners. Krah, on the other hand, downplayed his exclusion, stating that it would have no effect on his future role compared to other AfD MEPs. He believes his large following on TikTok and appeal to young voters contributed to the AfD’s success in the EU elections. However, Krah has faced negative headlines regarding alleged ties to pro-Russian networks and China. One of his staffers was even arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing.
Despite expelling Krah, the AfD has retained Petr Bystron, another controversial MP, in their delegation. Bystron is currently under investigation for money laundering and corruption, suspected of receiving money from the Kremlin to promote Russian propaganda. Even with these allegations, Bystron remains in the delegation, though he was not chosen as the leader. Instead, Rene Aust, a rising star in the AfD, was selected as the leader of the delegation. The AfD has faced challenges with losing support due to scandals involving their members, but they still managed to come second in the EU elections with 15.9%, beating other parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition.
The decision to expel Krah from the AfD delegation in the European parliament was seen as a strategic mistake by Krah himself. Despite his exclusion, he remains confident in his ability to maintain a role within the party at large, with a focus on grassroots support. The AfD’s action in expelling Krah reflects a desire to improve their standing within the European parliament and potentially rebuild relationships with key allies. Moving forward, the AfD will need to navigate political challenges and controversies surrounding their members to maintain and grow their support base. With new leadership in place, including Rene Aust as the leader of the delegation, the AfD aims to move past recent scandals and continue their fight for far-right ideals in the European political landscape.
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