On Thursday, September 11, 2025, a dramatic chapter unfolded in German politics as the Bundestag unanimously voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Maximilian Krah, a prominent far-right lawmaker from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The rare move, supported by every parliamentary group—including Krah’s own party—set in motion a series of high-profile searches by police, targeting Krah’s offices in Berlin and Brussels, as well as his home and workspaces in Dresden. The day’s events marked a significant escalation in a months-long investigation into alleged corruption, money laundering, and espionage with links reaching as far as China.
Maximilian Krah, 47, is no stranger to controversy. Once a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in Brussels, Krah became a Bundestag member after the federal election in February 2025, riding the wave of AfD’s historic gains. But his political ascent has been clouded by persistent allegations. According to the Associated Press, the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office began a preliminary investigation into bribery and money laundering in May 2025, focusing on alleged payments from Chinese sources during Krah’s time as an MEP. The probe intensified as prosecutors sought and received parliamentary approval to search for evidence.
The decision to revoke Krah’s immunity was not taken lightly. As reported by Euractiv, German MPs from all parties—including the AfD—voted unanimously to strip Krah of his legal protections. This rare consensus underscored the seriousness of the allegations and the desire across the political spectrum for transparency. The move allowed authorities to carry out searches and seize documents, a necessary step for any potential prosecution. The Dresden Higher Regional Court promptly issued the required orders, and police wasted no time executing raids on Krah’s Berlin parliamentary office, his home and offices in Dresden, and his former workspace in Brussels.
For Krah, the accusations are nothing short of a political witch hunt. On Thursday, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the proceedings, declaring, “the allegations are absurd, fabricated, and purely politically motivated. The search of my office is an attempt at intimidation, which I will defend myself against.” He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the charges are without merit and designed to damage his reputation and that of the AfD.
The roots of the investigation stretch back to Krah’s tenure as an MEP in Brussels, where his former aide, Jian Guo (also referred to as Jian G.), was arrested in April 2024 on suspicion of spying for China. According to AP and Euractiv, German federal prosecutors accuse Guo of working for a Chinese intelligence agency and passing on sensitive information about European Parliament negotiations and decisions between September 2019 and April 2024. Prosecutors allege that Guo collected some 500 confidential documents during this period. He currently stands trial on espionage charges, and Krah himself testified in court just last week.
The shadow of espionage has only heightened scrutiny of Krah, especially as investigators probe whether he benefited from Chinese payments or facilitated the flow of information. The current investigation seeks to determine if there is enough evidence to bring formal charges of bribery and money laundering, or if the proceedings should be dropped. As Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported, prosecutors are still in the preliminary stages, working to establish whether a criminal case can be built.
Krah’s political trajectory has been marked by controversy even before these latest allegations. In 2024, the AfD banned him from running in the European Union elections after he told an Italian newspaper that not all members of the Nazis’ elite SS unit—infamous for their role in World War II war crimes—were war criminals. The statement sparked outrage across the political spectrum and led to his sidelining by party leadership. Nevertheless, Krah’s popularity with the AfD base helped him win a Bundestag seat in the 2025 national election, cementing his status as a polarizing figure in German politics.
The AfD itself has been walking a tightrope. While its second-place finish in the 2025 national elections confirmed its growing influence, mainstream German parties have maintained a strict “firewall,” refusing to cooperate with the far-right movement. AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla issued a statement Thursday acknowledging the gravity of the situation: “the lifting of immunity and, in particular, the search of Mr. Krah’s office and private premises are serious matters.” They added, “we expect the investigation to be concluded swiftly and the results to be published.” Their remarks reflect both the party’s internal pressure to defend its own and the external demands for accountability.
For the AfD, the stakes are high. The party’s rise has forced other politicians to take notice, but it has also drawn intense scrutiny from law enforcement and the media. The ongoing investigations into Krah—and the broader allegations of foreign interference and corruption—threaten to undermine the AfD’s attempts to present itself as a legitimate alternative to the political establishment. At the same time, the party’s leadership is keenly aware that mishandling the situation could alienate its base or fuel further allegations of extremism and impropriety.
Observers note that the Bundestag’s decision to strip Krah of immunity, with even his own party’s support, signals a broader commitment to upholding the rule of law, regardless of political affiliation. As Politico reported, the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the investigation centers on “a member of the German Bundestag” over money laundering and corruption, specifically involving payments from China. The unanimity of the parliamentary vote suggests that, for now, the principle of legal accountability outweighs partisan loyalties—even in Germany’s increasingly fractious political climate.
Still, there are many unanswered questions. What evidence, if any, will prosecutors find in the seized documents and offices? Will the investigation lead to formal charges, or will it fizzle out for lack of proof? And how will the AfD and its supporters respond if Krah is ultimately exonerated—or convicted?
For now, Maximilian Krah remains defiant, vowing to fight what he calls intimidation and politically motivated attacks. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications, not only for his own future but for the broader debate over foreign influence, corruption, and the boundaries of political discourse in Germany. As the dust settles from Thursday’s raids, all eyes are on the prosecutors in Dresden—and on a political system grappling with the challenges of accountability in an era of rising populism and international intrigue.
