EU elections: Germany’s far-right AfD expelled from its own parliamentary group | DW News

Two weeks ahead of European elections, Germany's far-right Alternative for Deutschland - or AfD - has been expelled from the far-right Identity & Democracy grouping at the European Parliament. This follows a series of scandals largely centering around the party's lead candidate in the election.
Maximilan Krah was recently quoted as saying that not all members of Nazi Germany's 'SS' were criminals. The AfD responded by banning Mr Krah from making public appearances. Last month, German police arrested one of his assistants on suspicion of espionage.
For more on this, we speak with Nicolai von Ondarza. He heads the Europe Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a think-tank that advises the German Parliament and federal government on foreign & security policy issues.
And we talk to DW correspondent Bernd Riegert in Brussels.
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#AfD #EUElections2024 #FarRight

[@patrickrichard2106]

When you're too toxic for Le Pen... :-)

[@benzo___]

peak irony when AFD really gets thrown out of the identitarian part of the Euopean parliament because every vote for Krah will then be a lost cause as AFD are isolated

[@farright118]

ID isn't identitarian by far

[@militant_pacifist]

@@farright118 they are LITERALLY called Identity and Democracy. They might not be THE identitarians but they are identitarian.

[@dasitmane7590]

If they end up voting similar and the same on key issues, which will be the result. How is it a lost vote lmfao. Liar

[@militant_pacifist]

@@dasitmane7590 Because they won't be able to influence the voting behavior of the ID-Group. They've lost significant political influence for their German voters making them less attractive... Not really that complicated.

[@davidt1621]

Cela s’est produit parce que l’eurodéputée Marie LePen est une juive sioniste qui a refusé de siéger avec Krah à la prochaine session du Parlement européen. Elle est mariée à un Pied-Noir (Juif algérien). Sa mère juive a quitté sa famille alors qu'elle n'avait que 16 ans et depuis ce moment, elle essaie de rendre maman fière. Elle a hérité de ce poste de son père, et ils forment une opposition contrôlée. Les médias contrôlés par les sionistes ont déformé et omis une partie de la déclaration de Krah et l'ont immédiatement présentée à LePen pour commentaire, la mettant ainsi dans l'embarras. Il a en fait déclaré que certains agriculteurs allemands avaient été contraints, pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, de rejoindre la garde du corps d'élite de leur chef. Qu’il ait des preuves de cela est certainement une question intéressante, mais il n’y a pas de place pour la nuance en présence d’un sioniste. C'est leur façon de faire ou rien. La seule ironie ici est que les sionistes prétendent avoir tiré les leçons des événements de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. C'est vrai qu'ils ont appris beaucoup de choses, et ce sera notre mort à tous.

[@ryanv2324]

He is right though, during the later stages of the war much of the ss units on the frontline just meant they were prioritised for supplies and better equipped or they were tank units or foreign volunteers. For many it just became another branch of the wehrmacht that got massively expanded later in the war.... PS: still a silly comment to make for a politician. The media dont like tough conversations, they prefer to overreact to trigger words 😂

[@Philippe_Gruijthuijzen]

To normalise extreme thought is a dangerous act. To decriminalise a part of the SS is an example of such an act. It is the first step to normalise even more extreme thoughts such authoritism is allowed in certain circumstances.

[@ryanv2324]

@@Philippe_Gruijthuijzen to shy away from difficult conversation topics is cowardly and symptomatic of our politically correct and already authoritarian society. You didn't even make any points that dispute my statement, so ur not even going to deny im right haha

[@Philippe_Gruijthuijzen]

@@ryanv2324 If you decriminalise SS in a phd thesis, it is fine. If you decriminalise SS in a political speech, it has a bigger meaning. And I am talking about the latter, and you the former. I don't blame you personally that you are unsensitive for context. It is obvious that a head of a right win populist party does not want to start an 'academic' discussion about this topic. He just want to normalise authoritarian thoughts, instead. Please understand context

[@lukasmerten7697]

@@Philippe_Gruijthuijzen a first step? the other parties have been well OVER the first step in the covid dictatorship

[@lukasmerten7697]

@@Philippe_Gruijthuijzen that is the problem in our discussion culture nowadays. You moralize political speech in a way, that it HAS to lie purposely in order to not be twisted in such a way you're doing it right now. I can tell you, Maximilian Krah indeed likes to start an "academic" discussion about things, as seen in the 6 hours long interview with Tilo Jung. Of course you cannot see what cannot be - a politician who wants to show a different approach to a controversial topic and justifies it with lawful and even moral means. You however, you toxically blame people for being "insensitive" for not automatically assuming what you assume. The facts speak against you, what you have in your hand is an assumption, my dear. What he did, was arguing with actual arguments. What you are doing is assuming that he has a vile background in doing so. Reflect yourself more often, it helps our society not steer against a clearly visible wall of hatred and totalitarism of the now ruling western governments.

[@alexlaza5301]

Not too far right, but certainly too spinless, I don't think a true far right would be so keen to work for foreign interest and foreign interest alone. They should change their name to KGB station Germany.

[@anitamenig]

What Mr. Krah said was historically correct. Such Bulls..t. My mom was a child during WW2. She told me that a neighbor boy from their village wanted to join the war. He was just a youth, too young. He needed his father's signature to be allowed to serve. He knew this was not going to happen. The SS was known to allow those ,who otherwise could not serve due to their young age, join them as soldiers. This was the one and only reason he joined the SS. So what Mr. Krah said was merely speaking the truth. That makes him even more likeable. We really ought to stick to the truth and not change it into something evil, just because we have an agenda.

[@MKdence_]

It is true, but it is also completely unnecessary to say and the only imaginable goal is to relativize the crimes of an organisation that killed millions of people. That's what people are upset about. Nobody claims that literally everyone in the SS was a criminal.

[@anitamenig]

@@MKdence_ I am a different generation of Germans. You cannot bully me into feeling guilty for something a generation before me did. My dad was forced to join the war at 17. He told me that he would rather take a girl out to dance than to join the war, but was forced. He endured horrors that he never fully shared. His best friend who fought in war with him finally told my mom what happened. The enemy, believe it or not, was evil too. The stories are so gruesome , it is hard to believe they maintained their sanity. My generation is so over WW2 we simply block everything out And yes, I hope and pray AFD will one day win.Hopefully the communists we have in power will be forced to resign. This from a German that loves her country very much. Btw You say, "Nobody said that every SS committed a crime". That is not how it read in the article. Mr. Krak stated, "Not everyone in the SS was a criminal". That got him into trouble. Really? We Germans need to be aloud to speak freely. America, while we Germans are very grateful to them, must allow us our sovereignty and not tell us how we should feel about Russia etc. We are not little children. We will not be bullied into submission.

[@Mumpitzable]

You dont speak for the most Germany... so the "we" is too much for "us"

[@anitamenig]

@@Mumpitzable "We" is too much for us. I don't understand what you mean. Unless you think I should speak for myself and not include other Germans. Then you are wrong. There are other Germans who feel just like I do. I know when I use the word "We" I cannot include everyone. As a German it is time to wake up. I am too old to put up with such h nonsense. Btw. You need to improve you English if you want to make any sense.

[@danamania150]

I’m glad I live in a country where free speech exists

[@branimirsalevic5092]

< 5% is extreme; 17% is mainstream.

[@linked3]

That is not what the terms mean. The ideology of the party is extreme, although they might still be popular.

[@branimirsalevic5092]

@@linked3and the ideologies of all the parties left of the "extreme right" are extreme left. So everyone you vote for is an extremist.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

There was an extreme far right party on the ballet for London Mayor, they got so few votes that they were beaten by a clown who puts a rubbish bin on his head and calls himself Count Binface.

[@RuneDrageon]

Thats not surprising, Count Binface is the only true Mayor that can rescue London from itself! (obvious sarcasm, but long live the Count)

[@7Little701]

Here in the US we have boot on head. He hasn't won anything yet but runs semi regularly.

[@RuneDrageon]

@@7Little701 I wish we had some equivalent in Germany, but sadly we only have our normal politicians who are just as "competent" but in not funny.

[@ryuuguu01]

Now that the body of the previous Lord Buckethead has been acquired by Count Binface, do you know if Lord Buckethead will be running in the next Election?

[@Katsura_ja_nai_Zura_da]

Count Binface aren't clown. But better candidate than any other candidates!

[@Worldmisery]

I have a question for German people of all types of beliefs. What would you say about Nigel Farage and the Reform UK Party in Britain? Would you say that this is similar to AFD in Germany?

[@johnmanole4779]

Jesus Christ! how many bots are here

[@hendrx]

and by bots you mean everyone you happen to disagree with

[@gregorywilson2124]

Frankenstein will be Frankenstein.

[@Magnus_Mundus]

I love DW News comment section. The outrage is just so "authentic" and "real" and has absolutely nothing to do with it coming mostly from russian authoritarian tools 😌

[@prashanthsubburam1605]

😂 very True they are everywhere

[@zinjanthropus322]

So everyone who disagrees with you is Russian? Ok

[@generalkhalid1192]

Because someone doesnt agree with you, doesn mean they are russians, i support russia and everything that is anti NATO, and i never ever been to russia

[@Magnus_Mundus]

@@generalkhalid1192 you misunderstand. I don't mean russians. I mean the ridiculous internet trolls that are trying to back up putins corrupt terrorist regime.

[@gtrdxz]

This seems like a Russian bot comment

[@Ki-Explorer]

???

[@nick90000]

AfD expelled from the European fascist grouping 🤣 the others fascist parties are probably angry that Krah said it in public instead of behind closed doors

[@mapache69.]

“About as fascist as a child’s birthday party at McDonald’s”

[@jolist7175]

why do you think "fascism" (as you call it) is on the rise? would like to hear how informed you really are.

[@churckle2167]

@@jolist7175spoiler alert: he is a low information voter who lets the media dictate his beliefs and thoughts

[@mikicerise6250]

Which one? The fascist grouping Hamas, Hizbollah and Khamenei belong to, or the other one?

[@mapache69.]

@@mikicerise6250 those 3 are simply cavemen with too much power. I’m more worried about that pointy hat wearing group that controls majority of the worlds banks and media

[@bakeccho1924]

This is what you call democracy😂😂😂

[@arcades4243]

absolutely zero tolerance against anti-democrats

[@martinlisitsata]

Well if nothing else they do live up to there name , nobody can deny that the are alternative for Germany . PS : historically the statement is true if not popular

[@jsEMCsquared]

Same thing happening here in my "United States."

[@TheTwangKings]

Unfortunately, true.

[@Wolfcamp555]

Nah. The U.S. Constitution doesnt allow the "banning of parties." We have democracy.

[@DG-ie5ip]

What you got was Biden ? and look at the damage he is doing. Vote for Trump ! and get that cheesy mask off your icon pic !

[@mr.heisenberg1570]

@@DG-ie5iphow much did Putin and Xi pay you to make that comment?

[@wolfswinkel8906]

​@@Wolfcamp555we're not a democracy, we're a Constitutional Republic.

[@anonymous-anonymous-anonymous]

the you-know-whos strike again

[@HarpreetSingh-kj8ro]

AfD is centre-right not far-right.

[@paularivero1878]

Horror!! I hope will be no place for extremists in the EU

[@uyu4271]

ohh, look. a far left extremist

[@jolist7175]

why do think this extremism is on the rise, is their a cause,and what is this cause, can you inform me,(or not)?

[@maitrelama2300]

​@@jolist7175 Elle est trop lâche. Elle ne répondra pas

[@larkalfen9510]

yea leftist extremists have no place in EU

[@user-hl1ex6py8l]

Its inevitable the far right is on the rise throughout Europe. Unlike the AFD most of them will wait until they have real power before they show their true colours.

[@Tellmewhy-140]

DW Europe Extreme Left party

[@terranowa2080]

Unconditional right to stop our own life whenever we want medically. My body my choice. Freedom

[@ironfromicey8700]

I dont agree with the last woman. Being nationalist doesn’t always mean warmongering. Look at the pvv in the Netherlands

[@DaleHartley]

na·tion·al·ist /ˈnaSH(ə)nələst/ noun a person who strongly identifies with their own nation and vigorously supports its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. By the definition you are correct, not ALL nationalist are warmonger....but the majority are.

[@micskovbon5738]

If all the states got ultra nationalists, it means more wars, there would not be cooperation on importent issues.

[@purinat_sun]

You can support the interests of your nation to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations without waging war on them. Stop sending weapons to other nations, for example, already hurts their interests. Hurting the interests of other nations and hurting those nations themselves are not the same thing.

[@stephengiunta1564]

Germany please get a handle on these goofballs. My USA family lost an uncle the last time.

[@youtubeyoutube936]

Get a handle on Biden

[@stephengiunta1564]

@@youtubeyoutube936 You in the EU?

[@kimmbioplotter6841]

Get a handle on the politics of your own country first.

[@youtubeyoutube936]

Got my voting card to vote in 8 days

[@_lmagine]

Genuine question: were all SS soldiers classified as War Criminals?

[@Noah-dh6se]

The entire organization was a criminal organization Obviously anybody who participated in that was to some degree a criminal....

[@ironfromicey8700]

Not all ss soldiers where criminals thats true. In fact i have known one. Who told me his life story. But it isn’t a handy thing to say. Because the organization of the ss was terrible. In my country we still have to deal with the horrors they committed here.

[@suportbghelp4938]

@@ironfromicey8700 What is this country, because in Bulgaria old people had very good opinion about German soldiers manier coming here in WW2?Opposite to Russians who liberate us and show very bad maners. Above that German army build steel bridge in my city, we still using today after 80year without any issues.We still wonder about this top level of German enginering

[@stupidburp]

No but the SS policies and methods encouraged war crimes. These extreme actions were attractive to some, including many who were not German, attractive enough for them to join the SS. They were looking for hate and found it.

[@tomitiustritus6672]

Are all active members of ISIS or the Sinaloa Cartel criminals, for being part of a criminal organization? There is no "innocent accountant" working for the organization that was tasked with and in charge of the Holocaust. You don't get to say, "Oh, yes, i went to Syria and joined ISIS in 2014, but i am innocent. I was not part of the executions, i was just part of the catering team for the executions." Being a war criminal is just the premium upgrade on top of joining a criminal organization.

[@2024Research]

Homeless gang teen lodo $

[@bertbeck7399]

Wer Grundrechte ausser Kraft setzte oder es gut geheißen hat, hat sich delegitimiert.

[@flow8804]

We have that in our laws longer than 100year to protect people's health in times of pests, but in the 21.century it is a problem?

[@zinjanthropus322]

They are now free to focus on Germany instead of getting distracted with EU matters.

[@90taetaeya]

Sad day for freedom and democracy in Germany

[@anitamenig]

The AFD was Germany's hope to get out of EU and become the great nation it once was.

[@badmawededu6078]

AfD won 94 seats in the 2017 German federal election and became the third-largest party in the country, as well as the largest opposition party. It will get very nasty in the near future if they continue treating AFD the way they are doing including by France and Italy after getting green lines from the German government. If democracy still alive in Germany and EU, let the people/voters decide instead of unpopular political establishments and politicians.

[@JG-xi4tu]

The AFD was never the largest opposition party Edit: They *were* the biggest oppotition party in 2017, but lost in 2021. I misread the comment as "became and still are biggest opposition." My bad

[@saba1030]

The AfD is using democracy, to get into power, to destroy democracy ...this is why it's under observation of the authorities/defense of Constitution

[@darth856]

AfD bring their treatment onto themselves. Their politics are extreme even compared to other similar parties in other countries.

[@ansgarm.cordie9659]

In 1932 and 1933, a majority of the Germans made the NSDAP the main party in Germany. The "tolerance" of Social Democrats, Catholics and Liberals had overlooked the danger for the country and for Europe as a whole.

[@amenbrother8818]

@@JG-xi4tu Lying with impunity is a trademark of radical extremist parties everywhere. In the US they are know as the MAGA Republicans, in the EU the AfD.

[@user-ip4py1oo7o]

Tunnel where the bodies of four kidnapped Israelis were discovered was found inside a building constructed by UNRWA with funding from Germany. The mutilated body of German-Israeli woman Shani Louk was found inside the tunnel.

[@venkatsantoshd]

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@user-xb9wb8sc9l]

I wish we had an AfD in the UK

[@Katsura_ja_nai_Zura_da]

Lol sure mate lol😂

[@christianp4736]

You have. You can vote for them in 6 weeks time. They are called Reform UK.

[@user-xb9wb8sc9l]

@@christianp4736 AfD want remigration. Reform UK was net zero on migration. Which policies are similar between the two?

[@user-hl1ex6py8l]

You do. Its called Reform UK.

[@usdepartmentofthetreasury489]

Should have talked about the left…

[@linked3]

Why that? What is there to talk about?

[@erikt1713]

The Germans are still the original ones! The others are only ever just copies, except maybe the Italians.

[@A.n.w.S]

What does that even mean

[@erikt1713]

@@A.n.w.S Fascism was invented in Italy but further rolled out in Germany.

[@user-hl1ex6py8l]

@@erikt1713 The Germans where not Fascists, they were National Socialists. There are some similarities between the too political doctrines but there are some differences too. Its an easy mistake to make.

[@Alexander.S.L]

Ah yes. Let's hear the FAR left opinion on the "far right"...

[@stevenr.rodriguez9997]

You mean the opinion everybody left of Mussolini?

[@soundscape26]

Uh... where's the far left here?

[@flow8804]

Afd-dudes are so funny

[@Alexander.S.L]

​@@flow8804Who has claimed that I align with the AfD? Why is it that my right to choose is immediately met with derogatory labels, distortions of my words, and forced categorization? Why has the art of civil discourse become so rare among those with differing opinions? Can you not perceive how we are being fragmented by those who reap benefits from our discord? This division is wholly unnecessary. Rather than addressing the substantive issues we face, we are ensnared in perpetual conflict with one another. Should this trend persist, I shudder to think of the future that awaits humanity...

[@zinjanthropus322]

​@@stevenr.rodriguez9997 Says the ones debating banning their opponents.

[@NikhilPodlejski]

Look at Europas Democracy 😂🤦‍♂️

[@militant_pacifist]

Can you describe what happened and what part of that was undemocratic?

[@NikhilPodlejski]

@@militant_pacifist Expelling opposition parties. Imagine if this is happening in other countries.

[@johnmanole4779]

​@@NikhilPodlejski imagine you saying mass murders were cool and see how people will deal you then

[@NikhilPodlejski]

@@johnmanole4779 But this happened and done by other country's opposition but European leaders seems supportive to them. Why?

[@militant_pacifist]

@@NikhilPodlejski Ok, now actually tell me: From what was the AfD excluded. Tell me the name of that organization and what it does. Go ahead, look it up. And then explain how the EU is responsible for this.

[@tobiisiba1641]

Lmao this is the perfect definition of controled opposition.

[@DaleHartley]

Not really, it is the intolerance of the non-tolerant.

[@shawnf375]

​@DaleHartley Yup. Even the far-righr becomes the far-left when the wings of the same bird come together and want to get rid of competition. As an American, I stand watching and rolling my eyes...off of this was/is totally inevitable when you have a conglomeration of nations trying to tell other nations what they can or can't do or say, etc. Each country for his own. The EU is a pie in the sky delusion.

[@JkDograJakt]

What about...Freedom of speech and expression

[@Vatnik_tschistilka]

Guess the far right is not in favor of that if it doesn't serve their interests. Very surprising😅

[@vegemarkr4582]

how does anything here stop them from expressing themselves? they didnt get banned, they got kicked out of a group that didnt want it anymore

[@revolutionarydefeatism]

And you are continental nationalists! Europeanism is the new nationalism!

[@1mnyenaphar727]

European nationalism is better than nationalism because it is closer to globalism. Just as country nationalism is better than ethnic nationalism. Because more isolationism means more weakness and, of course, a higher possibility of violence

[@user-rawe]

You say that as if europe isn't the most etnic, cultural and national diverse continent in world

[@revolutionarydefeatism]

@@user-rawe It is not about overcoming differences! It is about rivalry with continental powers like China, the USA, India, Russia, etc. They need a continental size to be able to compete with other imperialist powers and to go to war if necessary.

[@CroatianUltraNationalist]

@@1mnyenaphar727 europe sucks

[@peter_meyer]

Oh, so there's something like a european nation? Where is that defined? Enlighten me.

[@farright118]

Afd have done nothing undemocratic

[@raisonneur682]

This will make AfD voters even more committed!😉

[@fanakimii6842]

Germany should actually exit EU and build a strong state once again. The strong Germany against any country.

[@ArchersPlace]

Lol you're exactly who they were talking about 🤣

[@soundscape26]

How would isolationism make Germany stronger?

[@chat4783]

First we need to find the following ingredients. 1. A toobrush mustache from Austria. 2. A person who come from an abusive family. 3. Failed Vienna Art School. 4. Served in Ukraine War 5. Join the AFD. 6. Splat non German Race. 7. Re-militerise the army. 8. Formed a pact with Russian again Poland and Balti States. 9. Steam rolled Poland and France.

[@helmutkohl8336]

As we use to say in Germany: "Did you drink paint?"

[@user-european_conservator]

@@soundscape26it’s not isolation, If Germany leaves EU they will flourish

[@annehersey9895]

I don’t have any idea WHY the AFD is even allowed to exist in Germany!

[@cb-7422]

Because they represent the legitimate views of millions of Germans?

[@annehersey9895]

@@cb-7422 that’s scary!

[@CroatianUltraNationalist]

@@annehersey9895 so loving your country is scary now?

[@annehersey9895]

@@CroatianUltraNationalist When you side with the Russians n Chinese and defend the SS you bet that’s scary-VERY SCARY!

[@johnmanole4779]

​@@CroatianUltraNationalist when you say ß hit like that then yes! It is bad! Good thing Ustashe were taken care off.

[@ipunchleftists]

That’s anti democraticn

[@backfischritter]

What? Everyone can decide who to work with in a free society...

[@alphariusomegon4819]

​@@backfischritter Is a parliamentary group an official government entity? If not, then yeah they have a right to kick anyone out if they want. I just think it’s ironic how the people who are supposedly anti-fascist are using fascist tactics, declaring AfD an extremist group so that they will be marginalized in society, even though many Germans voted for them. I don’t even agree with the Afd, but what it going on with them is wrong.

[@saba1030]

​@@alphariusomegon4819 The AfD is using democracy, to get into power, to then destroy democracy...this is why AfD is under observation of the authorities/defense of the Constitution

[@Vatnik_tschistilka]

How is it? It's every party's free choice to work together. Who is gonna make LePen work with the AfD? The great and wise dictator? Well Charlie isn't around to be playing that role these days.