Despite the spy scandal
AfD politician Maximilian Krah remains the top candidate for the European elections
First money from Russia, then espionage within his own ranks: Maximilian Krah comes under increasing pressure
Serious espionage allegations against one of his employees are not stopping him: AFD politician Maximilian Krah should continue to run for the European elections.
The list could currently only be changed “if an applicant or replacement applicant dies or loses eligibility” – this is what the European Elections Act says. The loss of eligibility occurs if a candidate has been convicted of a crime and sentenced to at least five years in prison.
Changes to the AFD candidate list are no longer possible
Krah would continue to be number one on the candidate list even if he were to step down as the top candidate on his own initiative. However, he would have the option not to take up the mandate he won in the European Parliament – this would be his decision alone, no one could force him to do so.
Leaving or excluding a party would also have no legal impact on his placement on the candidate list. At best, the AfD could declare at a political level that it does not want to work with MP Krah in the European Parliament after the election.
Krah – like the other AfD candidates for the European Parliament – was nominated at the Magdeburg party conference in the summer. The AfD then submitted the list of candidates to the Federal Returning Officer for review on time – this submission deadline ended on March 18th at 6 p.m., after which no changes were possible. On March 29, the Federal Election Committee approved the lists of 35 parties for the European elections – among them the AfD list with the name Markus Krah at the top.