AfD, accused in the German parliament of harboring “a latent cell loyal to Russia”. The reply of the far-right party: “The book of “Nazism” no longer works”

German lawmakers on Wednesday accused the Alternative for Germany (AfD) of harboring a Russian “latent cell”, the latest in a series of accusations of spying for Moscow that the far-right party denies, reports AFP.

Since October, the AfD party has been accused of trying to use parliamentary inquiries to gather sensitive details about critical infrastructure, security and military matters, particularly in the eastern German state of Thuringia.

Marc Henrichmann, a lawmaker for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said on Wednesday that the questions posed by AFP concerned arms deliveries to Ukraine, power plants, drone production and military bases.

“They have a latent cell loyal to Russia among them, at least,” claims Henrichmann. “How lucky for Vladimir Putin that there is AfD in Germany,” added the CDU MP.

AfD rejects 'malicious' accusations

AfD politicians deny the allegations and described them as “shameful” and “malicious”, but did not provide a justification for the calls.

AfD member Markus Frohnmaier accused the government of trying to distract from Germany's problems and looking for new ways to tarnish the opposition party's reputation.

During the debate, Henrichmann said a Kremlin strategy document described Frohnmaier as “under complete control”.

The popularity of AfD, the anti-EU and anti-immigration party, has grown a lot in the past year. In the national elections in February, the party came in 2nd place.

“The book of 'Nazism' no longer works, the CDU has decided to spend the next four years talking only about Russia and the AfD,” said Frohnmaier.

Another AfD MP, Stefan Keuter, noted that the government had given public written answers to the party's requests.

“Do you think the government would publish state secrets just because the AfD asks for them? No way,” he said.

Sonja Eichwede of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Sonja Eichwede of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) accused the AfD of operating “as an agent of Russian interests” in parliament.

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