The warrant pertains to unpaid legal costs
A German court has issued a civil arrest warrant for sitting AfD lawmaker and former MEP Maximilian Krah after he failed to attend a bailiff’s appointment concerning unpaid legal costs, German media reported on Thursday.
The dispute began after German satirist Jan Böhmermann read out a claim on a podcast that Krah had ordered 200 bottles of champagne at Munich’s Oktoberfest in 2024. Böhmermann subsequently said research suggested the number was closer to 50.
Krah sought an injunction, arguing that the allegation violated his personal rights because it could portray him as boastful and self-important. However, the Düsseldorf regional court dismissed the case, noting that Böhmermann had presented the allegation as a submission from a listener, and later corrected the claim. It ordered Krah to cover the legal costs of the case.
Böhmermann’s lawyers subsequently recovered around €5,000 in costs through enforcement proceedings. A further €296.26 reportedly remains outstanding. Krah said he had paid the main amount in January, was unaware of the bailiff’s appointment and would pay any additional costs verified by his lawyer.
