German parliament lifts immunity of AfD MP over China bribery claims

German lawmakers on Thursday voted in favour of lifting the parliamentary immunity of far-right lawmaker Maximilian Krah and authorized court-ordered searches and seizures in connection with a case relating to bribery by China and money laundering.

While the president of the lower house, Julia Klöckner, did not mention Krah by name when asking lawmakers to vote on the motion, he is mentioned in the corresponding document on the proceedings.

Krah is a member of the lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, where his party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), is the second-biggest force.

In early May, prosecutors in Dresden opened an investigation into accusations that he was bribed by China during his previous previous mandate as a member of the European Parliament. Krah has also been accused of money laundering.

A preliminary investigation in connection with alleged Russian payments linked to Krah is still pending, according to the Dresden prosecutors’ office.

The aim of the China-related investigation is to determine whether there is “sufficient cause to bring charges or whether the proceedings should be discontinued,” the prosecutors said.

Prosecutors had asked for his immunity from prosecution to be lifted.

Krah is a highly controversial figure, even within his own party.

He was the AfD’s top candidate in last year’s European Parliament elections, but his campaign was plagued by scandal.

Earlier this month, he testified in separate proceedings related a former assistant, who is accused of spying for Chinese intelligence.