Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament representing Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, stated on Wednesday that he would not step down despite one of his aides being arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
Krah informed reporters that he intends to dismiss the staff member arrested on spying charges, who appeared before an investigating judge on Tuesday evening. The incident has placed the AfD in a challenging position as it has recently risen to become Germany’s second-most popular party ahead of upcoming European and local elections. The arrest has also heightened concerns about Europe being a target for espionage activities by China and Russia.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Wang Wenbin, dismissed reports of Chinese espionage in Europe as “hype” designed to undermine China.
The espionage case involves an individual identified only as Jian G., accused of providing information about European Union legislative discussions to Chinese intelligence and spying on Chinese opposition figures. Jian Guo is listed as an assistant on Krah’s website, where Krah, the AfD’s lead candidate for the European assembly elections in June, stated that he was unaware of the arrest and denied any personal involvement in wrongdoing.
Krah affirmed his candidacy, stating, “I am and will remain the top candidate,” while emphasizing the need to refocus the election campaign on European issues amidst the controversy.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s recent visit to China for discussions with Chinese leaders underscores Germany’s efforts to recalibrate its relationship with its largest trading partner. This move comes as Germany aims to reduce risk following Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, highlighted by the Ukraine conflict and subsequent economic challenges.
The development surrounding the spy allegations and Krah’s response are closely watched as they unfold in the context of broader geopolitical tensions and concerns over foreign influence in European affairs.
