AfD MEP Maximilian Krah is facing a possible criminal investigation after the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) launched a probe into his role in potentially rigging a tendering process in favour of a firm to which he has links.
Krah, an outspoken Saxony-based MEP on the anti-NATO right of the party is alleged to have influenced the awarding of a communications contract for his Identity and Democracy (ID) parliamentary group, worth up to €100,000, to be given to his preferred company.
The matter, which originated in an anonymous tip-off, was first investigated by OLAF (the EU’s anti-fraud agency) before being passed up to the EPPO with the contract itself being suspended before money was paid. The involvement of EPPO raises the prospect of a criminal investigation should Krah’s immunity be lifted.
The politician and his staff have denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking to The European Conservative, Krah affirmed his innocence and denied that he was named in any files presented to EPPO by investigators, adding that he would happily present supporting evidence to journalists tomorrow.
The European Conservative first broke the potential of an EPPO probe against Krah last month when documenting the suspicious activity of a Chinese parliamentary aide and alleged pro-CCP lobbying of AfD officials.
Krah has repeatedly denied all charges of impropriety, claiming that the allegations against him are largely motivated by an ongoing power struggle within the AfD and a witchhunt directed against him for his anti-NATO opinions.
Responding to Politico, Krah has insinuated that his party colleague Nicolaus Fest is partially behind the claims and the potential source of the original tip-off to authorities.
Fest has categorically denied being behind the leak, saying that the information provided to OLAF was too particular and had to have come from someone with insider knowledge of the process. Fest himself is facing separate proceedings to have him expelled from the AfD for his non-payment of party membership fees.
Known as a hardliner within the ranks of the party, Krah has attracted negative attention for his professional connections to China and vocal opposition to the NATO war effort in Ukraine, positioning himself firmly on the anti-Atlanticist wing of the party.
Internal relations within the AfD have soured in recent months, with the party split on its stance on the Ukrainian war. There is growing speculation of a wider split within the ID group into pro- and anti-war factions with the Finns Party, announcing their defection due to what they describe as ‘Russophile’ tendencies within the bloc.
