The move came after a Green Party politician told reporters in Brussels that far-right parties in the EU were a “huge risk” for the continent.
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Nine lawmakers from Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were expelled from the European Parliament’s Identity and Democracy (ID) political group on Thursday, following a request from the group.
In a statement on social media, ID confirmed that the German delegation had been expelled “with immediate effect.”
“ID Group no longer wants to be involved in the incident involving Maximilian Kurler, head of the AfD list for the European elections,” it said.
AfD spokespeople Alice Weidel and Tino Krupalla said the party was “taking note” of ID’s decision but was “optimistic” about the upcoming elections. “Of course, the AfD will work hard to increase its delegation and ensure that we have a strong group in the European Parliament,” they said.
“Cooperation with the parties involved is essential to exert political influence in Brussels. We are therefore confident that we will have reliable partners by our side in the new legislative period.”
Yesterday, the AfD banned its top European candidate, Maximilian Kurler, from campaigning in the upcoming European elections, after he subsequently stepped down from his leadership position following pressure from within the party.
Kula recently faced strong backlash after telling an Italian newspaper that not all members of the elite Nazi SS units involved in serious war crimes during World War II were war criminals.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Klar countered that “practical and differentiated statements” were being “misused” to hurt a party that is currently in need of “unity.”
“I therefore refrain with immediate effect from taking part in any future election activities and will resign from my position as a member of the Federal Executive Committee,” he said.
The 47-year-old was already in hot water after authorities in Brussels raided his European Parliament offices in connection with an arrested aide.
The scandal comes at an inopportune time for the AfD, which was hoping for a big boost in June’s European elections.
German media have alleged that Mr Kula has ties to China and Russia, and his AfD colleague Petr Byström separately denied a Czech daily report last month that he may have received money from a pro-Russia network.
“The party has suffered huge losses in this election campaign and the excuse for this was the front-runner,” a top AfD official said recently.
Green candidate criticizes the presence of the far-right in the EU
The European Greens’ leading candidate, Terry Reintke, told reporters at the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday that right-wing “extremists,” particularly the AfD, were Putin’s “extension in the European Union.”
This is a “huge risk for the European Union,” Reintke said.
“It is clear that the far-right are trying to destroy not only the European Union but our democracy. That is why we will not form a majority with them and why we will do everything we can to weaken as much as possible the presence of the far-right in the next European Parliament.”
