German Far-Right Lawmaker Retains Candidacy Amidst Spy Scandal
Maximilian Krah, a prominent German far-right lawmaker, has announced that he will remain the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s top candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections despite the arrest of his assistant, Jian Guo, on suspicion of spying for China.
Guo, who had worked for Krah since his election to the European Union legislature in 2019, is accused by prosecutors of working for a Chinese intelligence service and repeatedly passing on sensitive information. The arrest has cast an unflattering light on the AfD, which already faced criticism for its Russia-friendly positions.
Krah has stated that he will dismiss Guo from his position and vows to clear his name. He conceded that the election campaign has been overshadowed by the matter but insists that he will remain the lead candidate and refocus the campaign on European issues.
The arrest of Guo comes amidst a broader crackdown on suspected Chinese spying activities in Europe. On Monday, British prosecutors charged a former researcher working in the U.K. Parliament and another man with spying for China.
