AfD crisis: Krah withdraws from election campaign and board

After the interview, the Rassemblement National announced that it no longer wanted to work together with the AfD in a parliamentary group in the European Parliament. Both parties previously sat in the right-wing group ID. RN party leader Jordan Bardella explained his party's decision on TF1: "I think that the AfD, with whom we have worked together in the European Parliament for five years, has crossed lines that are red lines for me." After the election, the party will therefore have new allies and will no longer sit alongside the AfD.

"Never lower than in God's hands"

According to a spokesperson, the AfD federal executive discussed Krah's comments and the consequences for cooperation with the Rassemblement National in a conference call on Wednesday morning. As a result, the party spokesperson confirmed the ban on Krah's appearance.

The candidate himself explained on X: "You can never fall lower than in God's hands. I note that factual and differentiated statements by me are being misused as a pretext to harm our party. The last thing we need at the moment is a debate about me. The AfD must maintain its unity. For this reason, I will refrain from further election campaign appearances with immediate effect and resign as a member of the federal executive committee."

Krah comes from the Saxon AfD state association. He is considered a confidant of the Thuringian AfD state leader Björn Höcke. The AfD leadership around federal chairmen Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla had already distanced themselves from Krah in recent weeks.

According to media reports, public prosecutors are investigating Krah for possible Chinese payments. According to critical party colleagues, the Saxon AfD politician has repeatedly attracted attention in the past with pro-Chinese statements and activities. The so-called preliminary investigation proceedings in the Krahs case are being conducted by the Dresden public prosecutor's office, while similar proceedings are being conducted in Munich in the Bystrons case. Both politicians have assured the AfD leadership that they have not taken any money.

After a crisis meeting with Weidel and Chrupalla, Krah had already canceled his participation in the AfD's election campaign kick-off on 27 April in Donaueschingen. However, he later resumed his appearances.

Le Pen and Meloni keep their distance - Salvini apparently too

Some right-wing parties in Europe have been at odds with the AfD for months. Following the revelations by media outlet Correctiv about a meeting of right-wing extremists in Potsdam in January, Marine Le Pen voiced clear criticism. There was a crisis meeting with Weidel.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from the ultra-right Fratelli d'Italia distanced herself from the AfD at the beginning of the year. She spoke of "irreconcilable differences" and referred at the time in particular to the AfD's relations with Russia. However, the Fratelli do not belong to the ID in Europe, but to the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party.

Italy's partner in the ID is Matteo Salvini's right-wing Lega. The latter did not initially comment on Krah's latest statements. However, the Italian news agency Ansa quoted the Lega delegation in the European Parliament on Tuesday evening as saying: "As always, Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen are perfectly aligned and in agreement."

• Report France Info
• Report Le Monde
• Report Libération
• Interview La Repubblica
• Bardella at TF1

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