Krah disobeys internal party rule against public displays.
Maximilian Krah, an AfD politician who sparked outrage across European right-wing circles, was banned from making appearances by his party. This came after he claimed in an interview with Italian newspaper "La Repubblica" that he wouldn't label all former SS members as criminals. AfD's Dresden top candidate, however, is still canvassing. Surprisingly, the party's leadership is silent on this issue.
Recently, there were reports of Krah defying his ban and making public appearances during the European election campaign. He was spotted at a shopping center in Dresden on Wednesday, wearing a blue jacket bearing the AfD logo. His controversial statement about former SS members ignited anger among European right-wingers who subsequently ejected the AfD from their faction.
The ban imposed by the AfD encompassed all party events at both federal and regional levels. The leadership initially remained silent on Krah's latest appearance, possibly due to their astonishment. Krah, a hardliner with anti-EU and nationalist-populist views, has often caused controversy with his stand on gender roles.
Earlier this month, Krah's assistant was arrested and his office was searched in Brussels amidst allegations of receiving money from China and spying for the country. Investigators have been conducting a probe into potential Russian influence on European politicians, targeting Krah in connection with a meeting with pro-Russian propaganda network "Voices of Europe" in 2019. The same investigation also involves his ex-boss who he hasn't worked for since 2022, but is associated with the Dutch right-wing populist Marcel de Graaff.
On Wednesday, investigators carried out a search at his former boss's offices in Brussels and Strasbourg. Krah hadn't worked for this boss since 2022, but the investigation appears to have a broader focus on Russian influence in Europe between 2019 and 2022.
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Despite the ban, Maximilian Krah, a controversial right-wing populist and AfD politician, continued to make appearances during the European elections, stirring up controversy within right-wing circles across Europe. His defiance of the party's rule against public displays was accompanied by his endorsement of a controversial stance on former SS members, further fuelling the outrage.
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