AfD European candidate active in election campaign despite appearance ban

Despite a ban on appearances by the AfD leadership, European candidate Maximilian Krah has made an appearance in the election campaign. The "Bild" newspaper reported that Krah stood in front of a shopping center in Dresden on Wednesday afternoon wearing a blue AfD jacket.

The appearance was registered by the AfD party leadership, at least in retrospect. The party leadership initially refrained from making a public comment, probably also because it was not a major event.

The newspaper published pictures showing the 47-year-old Saxon in a blue jacket with the AfD logo, holding a coffee mug and a cigarette next to some people and an AfD parasol. It is not clear exactly when the pictures were taken.

The party leadership had banned Krah from appearing in the election campaign on 22 May. The specific reason was Krah's controversial comments about the SS. However, Krah had already been under pressure beforehand due to the espionage affair surrounding an employee and his closeness to Russia and China.

Krah had agreed at the time to refrain from making any appearances. The "Bild" newspaper now quotes Krah as saying: "Putting up posters with the local group without the press is not an election campaign appearance. That's grassroots work."