Leipzig Book Fair Cancels Presentation of AfD Politician Maximilian Krah's Novel

The management of the Leipzig Book Fair officially announced the removal from the event program of the promotion of the book "Die Reise nach Europa" (Journey to Europe). The author of the work is Maximilian Krah, a politician representing AfD. The presentation was scheduled for March 21, 2026, and was organized by the publishing house Castrum Verlag. The decision to cancel was announced on February 18, following prior reports by the news portal "The Pioneer". Alternative for Germany (AfD), founded in 2013, evolved from a party opposing the common euro currency to a national-conservative group that in recent years has been under observation by German counterintelligence due to suspected right-wing extremism. The organizers justify their position with "massive security concerns". They point out that the politician's high profile and his public statements, which have long aroused extreme emotions, could provoke incidents threatening fair participants. The statement emphasized that the institution's top priority is protecting all visitors, especially numerous school classes and families with children, who traditionally visit the exhibition halls in March. The fair authorities noted that the decision was made after a "thorough review" of the situation. According to unofficial information from German media, public order services feared violent protests by anti-fascist groups and potential clashes between supporters and opponents of the politician. Maximilian Krah is a figure causing deep social divisions, even within his own party. The publishing house Castrum Verlag, responsible for publishing the novel, has so far not issued an extensive statement regarding the blocking of the opportunity to promote their title at such a prestigious literary forum. March 21 — was the scheduled date for Krah's book promotion This situation fits into the broader context of the debate on freedom of speech and the limits of exposure for radical politicians at cultural events in Germany. The Leipzig Book Fair is known for promoting dialogue, but in this case, it was deemed that the physical safety of guests is more important than providing a platform to a controversial author. The decision was met with enthusiasm from part of the public, alongside criticism from AfD supporters, who speak of censorship and politically motivated actions against their candidate.

[{"dateISO": "2026-02-18", "date": "February 18, 2026", "event": "Announcement of the decision to cancel the meeting"}, {"dateISO": "2026-03-21", "date": "March 21, 2026", "event": "Planned date of the cancelled novel promotion"}]

„The presentation was removed from the program after a careful assessment for security reasons.” — Management of the Leipzig Book Fair Liberal media praise the decision as a necessary step to ensure safety and protect against hate ideology in public space. | Conservative and right-wing portals condemn the decision as an example of preventive censorship and limiting public debate by the establishment.