German Far-Right Lawmaker Dismisses Assistant Arrested for Spying for China
In a shocking turn of events, a prominent German far-right lawmaker announced on Wednesday that he will be parting ways with his assistant, who was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Despite this scandal, the lawmaker, Maximilian Krah, will continue to lead his party’s charge in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
The assistant in question, Jian Guo, was taken into custody on Monday. Prosecutors have alleged that Guo, a German national who had been working for Krah since 2019, was operating on behalf of a Chinese intelligence service. Guo is accused of leaking information about negotiations and decisions within the European Parliament, as well as monitoring Chinese dissidents in Germany.
Following a court order to detain Guo pending further investigation, Krah held a meeting with party leaders where he confirmed Guo’s dismissal. He expressed his commitment to uncovering the truth behind the accusations and reassured that his office would review all of Guo’s previous work.
The timing of this scandal couldn’t be worse for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has already been under fire for its pro-Russia stance. Krah acknowledged the negative impact on the election campaign and announced his absence from the party’s campaign rally in Donaueschingen.
Despite the setback, Krah maintained his position as the lead candidate and emphasized the need to shift the focus back to European issues. He denied any personal involvement in the espionage activities carried out by his former assistant.
The incident involving Guo is just one of several recent cases of espionage tied to China. The news of his arrest coincided with the apprehension of three Germans suspected of spying for China in a separate incident. Additionally, British authorities charged two individuals with spying for China, highlighting the global implications of such activities.
As the European Parliament elections draw near, Krah and the AfD face a critical test of their leadership and integrity in the wake of this scandal. Stay tuned for further developments on this evolving story. — Euronews
