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

The organizers of the Leipzig Book Fair (Leipziger Buchmesse) announced the cancellation of an author meeting with Maximilian Krah, a leading politician of the AfD. The event, which was to promote his novel titled "Die Reise nach Europa" ("Journey to Europe"), was removed from the schedule just a few weeks before the planned date. The decision was made after consultations and a thorough risk assessment by the security services responsible for order at the fairgrounds. The main reason for canceling the presentation is widespread safety concerns. A fair spokesperson emphasized that the priority is protecting all guests, especially the youngest visitors, such as school classes and families. Due to the politician's highly controversial views and his high public profile, the organizers concluded they could not guarantee a peaceful event. The publishing house Castrum Verlag, which submitted the publication to the program, has already received official notification of the item's removal from the agenda. The Leipzig Book Fair, whose history dates back to the 17th century, is alongside the Frankfurt Book Fair the most important literary event in Germany, traditionally emphasizing author meetings with the public. Maximilian Krah himself sharply criticized this move, calling the fair "intellectually dead". The politician, who in 2025 was questioned as a witness in a trial concerning espionage for China, considers the decision politically motivated. It should be noted that during Krah's previous public appearances, there have been numerous protests, each time requiring significant police involvement. However, the Leipzig fair organizers argue that in such an open public space, the risk of incidents is too high to ignore. „The Leipzig Book Fair is intellectually dead.” — Maximilian Krah 21 marca — was the scheduled date for Krah's novel presentation