The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could face expulsion from the European Parliament group to which it belongs, according to a document seen by dpa on Thursday, just two weeks before the European elections.
Marco Zanni, the leader of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, has filed a request to expel the AfD after several negative headlines about the party in recent weeks, including about the AfD’s main candidate for the June elections , Maximilian Krah.
The move comes after a “series of incidents involving Mr Maximilian Krah and – by extension – the group’s German delegation” and their impact on the group’s reputation, the text of the motion reads.
Krah came under significant public scrutiny after his comments that not all Schutzstaffel (SS) members were criminals. The SS was an important paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
In response, the AfD banned Krah from appearing in public.
Another AfD candidate, Petr Bystron, will also no longer appear due to an investigation by the Public Prosecution Service into alleged corruption.
Both Krah and Bystron have come under intense investigation in recent weeks for alleged ties to pro-Russian networks.
In addition, last month German police arrested Krah’s then-assistant, Jian Guo, on suspicion of espionage. Krah fired him after allegations that the aide was spying for China.
All nine AfD lawmakers in the ID faction are listed for expulsion in a vote that will take place later Thursday. The request to remove all AfD members from the European Parliament group was sent to top representatives of political parties in the ID.
The Italian League party, to which Zanni belongs, has already agreed to the motion.
Christine Andersonleader of the AfD delegation in ID, however, objected to the vote and demanded to be consulted according to the group’s rules, according to information obtained by dpa.
With the support of six other members of the AfD, Anderson demanded that only Krah be expelled from the ID group and filed a counter-motion. Only one AfD lawmaker did not support Anderson.
The exclusion of AfD members from the EU legislature would be mainly symbolic, as parliament will not reconvene until after the European elections in June. The political groups can then possibly be reformed.
In addition to the Italian League, the ID group in the European Parliament also includes the French National Rally party of Marine Le Pen and the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert Wilders, although the latter has no seats in the European Parliament.
Le Pen’s National Rally had previously ended cooperation with the AfD after plans to deport migrants on a large scale were discussed at a secret meeting last November near Berlin attended by members of the AfD and known radical rightists.
