In 1 day, the Bundestag stripped the immunity of 2 AfD MPs. Although there are different cases, both politicians believe that actions are politically motivated.
The Munich lawyer General launched an investigation against AfD MP Petr Bystron due to suspicion of corruption and money laundering. respective facilities were searched, including Bystron's office in Berlin. Parliament had previously stripped him of his immunity. In the evening, his fellow faction, Hannes Gnauck, lost immunity, which allowed disciplinary proceedings to be conducted against president Junge Alternative. The circumstantial reasons have not yet been disclosed.
Searching respective places
According to the prosecutor's office in Munich, in Bystron's case, searches were planned in respective locations in Bavaria and Majorca. Eleven prosecutors and about seventy police officers from the Bavarian Criminal Office participated in the action. The Prosecutor's Office stressed that pending a possible conviction, the presumption of innocence applies.
Bystron called the investigation politically motivated.
The proceedings will be dismissed erstwhile the elections are over," he told the portal “Zeit Online”. “It costs us respective votes in the election, but another voters will stay loyal to AfD.”
Controversies from Russia and China
Bystron, a Munich-North constituency MP, has been an AfD associate in the Bundestag abroad Affairs Committee since 2017. It besides ranks second on the list of AfD candidates for the European Parliament in the June 9 election. Bystron and chief candidate Maximilian Krah have been in the centre of controversy in fresh weeks due to possible links with pro-Russian networks and suspicions of taking money.
In March, the Czech Republic placed the Pro-Russian net platform “Voice of Europe” on the national sanction list following the investigation of intelligence services. This platform featured interviews with Bystron and Krah. Czech media reported that Bystron could besides accept money. The Munich Prosecutor's Office initiated a preliminary investigation to see if there is any suspicion of parliamentary bribery. The investigation concerns allegations related to ‘Voice of Europe’.
The Dresden law enforcement authorities besides conducted a preliminary investigation against Krah, who comes from Dresden, in connection with possible payments from China. While the D.A. in Munich continues to analyse Bystron, in Dresden the investigation into Krah is underway. No fresh information was provided in Saxony’s capital on Thursday. Krah and Bystron said they didn't take any money.
Krah is besides at the centre of attention due to the fact that his erstwhile associate Jian G. was arrested on suspicion of espionage for China. In connection with the investigation against G. national prosecutors last week, she searched Krah's offices and his erstwhile associate in the European Parliament in Brussels. The papers belonging to Krah are protected by parliamentary immunity. Immunity can only be abolished at the request of the authorities by a parliamentary decision. However, the Commission liable for this in the European Parliament will not meet before the European Parliament elections on 9 June. Krah denies any wrongdoing.
AfD management is inactive waiting for evidence
AfD continues to support its 2 candidates for the European Parliament. Krah, after a short break, again participates in the election campaign. In the case of Bystron, organization leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla briefly stated: “The abolition of immunity and the search of offices and private rooms by Petra Bystron is simply a serious matter.” So far, no evidence has been presented of charges filed for weeks. The Faction hopes that the investigation will be concluded rapidly so that "there is no suspicion that the authorities and prosecutors are trying to influence the electoral run to the European Parliament".
Second MP AfD loses immunity
In the evening, the Bundestag besides stripped Mr AfD MP Hannes Gnauck of immunity, allowing disciplinary proceedings to be conducted against president Junge Alternative. The AfD youth organization was recognized by the national Constitution Protection Office in April 2023 as far right.
The circumstantial reasons for the removal of immunity of a 32-year-old has not yet been disclosed. According to ARD's information, it's a disciplinary substance from his service in the Bundeswehr. Gnauck represents AfD in the Defence Commission. Politicians of another parties powerfully criticized the fact that the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) of the Bundeswehr considered the erstwhile soldier to be an "extremist".
Immunity abolished ‘for no apparent reason’
Gnauck, who served in the Bundeswehra from 2014 to 2021 as a professional soldier, stated in the evening that he had already proposed a fewer weeks ago the president of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas abolish his immunity to resolve the charges he had made. Bas then informed him that this step was not necessary.
Now, shortly before the elections to the European Parliament, his immunity has been abolished "for no apparent reason" to let an investigation into a case that has been pending for 3 years.
"The false representation of opposition politicians as corrupt or criminal is clearly intended to undermine AfD's performance," he stated.
He added that he had nothing to object to and was waiting for the results of the investigation.
Fernab von Brüssel müssel müssen Kinder & Jugendliche die Folgen einer Politik ausbaden, die keinerlei Zukunftsperpektive mehr bietet, während der Alltag für viele von ihnen zum Überlebenskampf wird. Wir lassen Dich nicht im Stich: #Blau Statt mutiny! #AfDhttps://t.co/tXfQhOoJhpic.twitter.com/ORvLFpGCbE
— AfD (@AfD) May 16, 2024dpa/ARD/mn
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