Debated frontrunner for the position - The AfD party removes Maximilian Krah from the EU Parliament delegation.
Maximilian Krah, a prominent AfD (Alternative for Germany) politician, won't be part of the upcoming AfD delegation in the European Parliament. The newly elected MPs held a meeting on Monday and passed a motion to exclude him during the gathering. Despite this, Krah will still become a member of the new EU Parliament.
The AfD in Europe will consist of 15 politicians, making the delegation have only 14 members, according to current information. Krah shared his thoughts on his future role compared to the other AfD MPs, saying, "From a parliamentary standpoint, we're all on the same level. There's no difference; everyone is equal... even in hell." Delegations within the EU are defined as "official groups of members of the European Parliament that maintain ties with the parliaments of non-EU states, regions, and organizations and deepen these relations."
Krah has been making headlines due to his ties to pro-Russian networks and possible connections to China. Additionally, controversial statements about the Nazi SS involving Krah were revealed, which prompted the right-wing ID faction in the European Parliament to exclude the AfD before the election.
Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla: René Aust to Lead the Delegation; Petr Bystron Remains a Member
The AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla met with the newly elected AfD MEPs in Berlin on Monday to establish the forthcoming AfD delegation in the EU Parliament and determine the leadership of the group. They discussed the group's structure before the talks, with Weidel expressing her optimism: "I think we'll come out of here with a very good result."
René Aust, the Thuringian AfD Vice Chairman, will lead the future AfD delegation in the European Parliament. This decision was made by the newly elected MEPs in Berlin, as revealed by Alice Weidel after the meeting. Meanwhile, Petr Bystron, a controversial German MP, will also be a part of the AfD delegation in the EU Parliament, according to sources present during the constituent meeting.
Maximilian Krah: "I'll Work Loudly and Successfully for This Party in the European Parliament"
During a break in the talks, Krah spoke with journalists about his situation if he wasn't included in the delegation. He wouldn't consider this a friendly act, and it wouldn't prevent him from passionately representing the party in the European Parliament. Krah credits himself with the success among young voters.
After the meeting, Krah released a statement on his Twitter account. "The result is that I am not part of the non-aligned member's club," he said, describing the majority of EU MPs' decision. According to Krah, eight MPs voted against him, four were in favor, and three abstained. A motion by the North Rhine-Westphalian MP Hans Neuhoff was followed by the majority.
According to the "Junge Freiheit" newspaper, the group deemed Krah as someone who'd campaigned at the expense of the party. Krah believes his exclusion is a strategically incorrect move by the AfD: "The party should not allow others to dictate who it will field."
The AfD won 15.9% in the German European election on Sunday and will join the new parliament with 15 MPs.
