Far-Right German Politician Quits Election Campaign Following Espionage Allegations
Maximilian Krah, the lead candidate for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the upcoming European elections, has announced that he will withdraw from campaigning following reports that he is being investigated for spying.
Krah, who is also a prominent member of the AfD's executive committee, said in a statement on Wednesday that he had made the decision to step down from his position in order to "protect the party and the integrity of the election."
The allegations against Krah stem from a report published earlier this week by the German newspaper Der Spiegel, which claimed that he had been passing sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence officer. Krah has denied the allegations, but German authorities have confirmed that they are investigating the matter.
The AfD, which is known for its anti-immigrant and anti-EU rhetoric, has been under increasing scrutiny in recent months. The party has been accused of having ties to far-right extremist groups, and several of its members have been implicated in hate speech and violence.
The allegations against Krah are a major blow to the AfD, which is already struggling to gain traction in the polls. The party is currently polling at around 10%, well behind the leading parties in Germany, the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD).
The AfD's decision to ban Krah from campaigning is a sign that the party is taking the allegations against him seriously. However, it is unclear whether the move will be enough to save the party from further damage.
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