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German far right dumps EU lead candidate after downplaying SS

by AI | 22.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The PVV has not yet considered the tensions within the European R&D faction, to which the PVV itself also belongs. A German politician from this faction will keep a low profile for the time being after criticism from the French Marine Le Pen.

PVV leader Geert Wilders during the campaign for the Dutch Second Chamber elections. Photo: Koen Van Weel/ANP/dpa

BRUSSELS/BERLIN – The German ally of the PVV is sidelining its European lead candidate after making statements that appeared to trivialize the SS. Maximilian Krah is, in the midst of a full election campaign, temporarily barred from representing the party.

Krah’s statements about the SS, which were taken badly by other parties in the far-right faction in the European Parliament. Not all SS members were war criminals, Krah said about the Nazi elite corps that led the extermination of the Jews.

That was too much for the party of French Marine Le Pen, who is trying to distance herself from the far-right and is choosing a more moderate course, and also for the Danish People’s Party. Le Pen announced again on Wednesday a “clean break” with the AfD. She no longer wants to form one faction, that of I&D, with the German party in the European Parliament.

Krah is now further abstaining from campaign activities and is stepping back from the AfD leadership, he announced on X.

The PVV has not yet dealt with the matter, says leader Geert Wilders. His party currently has no MEPs, but according to opinion polls could become one of the largest small parts within the current I&D faction next month.

(May 22, 2024)