The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has banned Maximilian Krah, its leading candidate in European elections, from further campaign activities following his remarks that members of the SS (Schutzstaffel), the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party, “were not all criminals”.
A party spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the AfD’s federal steering committee had banned the politician from speaking in public until after the European Parliament elections, which will take place from 6-9 June.
Krah told Italian newspaper La Repubblica last weekend:
“I will never say that everyone who wore an SS uniform was automatically a criminal.”
On Wednesday, Krah wrote on X that his statements were “used as a pretext to harm our party”. He added that he would refrain from making any further campaign appearances and resign as a member of the party’s steering committee.
Making matters worse
The split comes after the AfD, which became Germany’s second most popular party ahead of local and European elections this year, came under scrutiny over its policies.
Krah was at the centre of the crisis after police arrested one of his aides in the European Parliament on suspicion of spying for China. German prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into Krah over reports of suspicious payments received from China and Russia.
Polls show that nationalist parties will win a record number of votes in June. These results are the consequence of voter fatigue with high inflation, immigration policies, inadequate housing prices and poor health care.
