The far-right AfD presents itself as a patriotic party, but revelations about possible monetary payments from Russia and a suspected Chinese spy have exposed its members as traitors to their country. DER SPIEGEL has learned that the Kremlin even drafted a "manifesto" for the party.
The German government and opposition lawmakers assailed the far-right Alternative for Germany for its alleged closeness to Russia and China Thursday after an assistant to a legislator for the party was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing. This week's arrest of an aide to European Parliament lawmaker Maximilian Krah cast an unflattering light on the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which has long faced criticism for Russia-friendly positions.