Book Fair Cancels Novel Presentation by AfD Politician Krah - Leipzig Book Fair cancels Krah's novel launch over security fears
The Leipzig Book Fair has canceled the planned presentation of a novel by Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Maximilian Krah, which had originally been scheduled as part of the event. In a statement, the fair announced that the event, registered by Castrum Verlag, had been scrapped "after careful consideration for security reasons," following an earlier report by news outlet The Pioneer.
Krah's novel, The Journey to Europe, was set to be presented on March 21. However, organizers cited "serious security concerns" due to Krah's high public profile and his "highly controversial positions, which have sparked intense public debate." Their top priority, they emphasized, was ensuring the safety of all visitors—especially the many school groups, families, and young people attending. The fair's security policy explicitly prohibits events deemed to carry significant risk or requires them to be relocated to a different setting.
In response to The Pioneer, Krah expressed surprise at the cancellation, dismissing the fair as irrelevant if it feared discussing what he described as an "apolitical" book. He rejected the security concerns as unjustified and stated that his publisher would attempt to persuade organizers to reverse their decision. "An event where everyone must share the same opinion to be allowed to present is intellectually dead," he remarked.
The Leipzig Book Fair, for its part, reiterated its role as a platform for ideas, dialogue, and storytelling, where the literary world, society, and the public are invited to engage in exchange.
Krah's 2026-published work explores themes such as Europe's history, memory, identity, and responsibility.
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