German court issues arrest warrant for AfD lawmaker Krah over unpaid Böhmermann legal costs
A district court in Chemnitz issued an arrest warrant for AfD Bundestag member Maximilian Krah after he failed to pay 296.26 euros in remaining legal costs from a lost lawsuit against comedian Jan Böhmermann and did not appear for a bailiff's appointment in mid-July.
The champagne dispute
In October 2024, comedian and ZDF moderator Jan Böhmermann read a listener's letter on his podcast "Fest und Flauschig" claiming that AfD politician Maximilian Krah had ordered 200 bottles of champagne for an entire tent at Munich's Oktoberfest. The letter alleged that restaurateur Michael Käfer cancelled the order after learning of Krah's presence, and that tent visitors booed the politician. Böhmermann later corrected the figure, saying his research indicated "around 50" bottles.
Krah, already dubbed "Schampus-Max" (Champagne Max) in some German media, filed an injunction at the Landgericht Düsseldorf, arguing the claim could affect his personality rights by suggesting grandiosity, self-display and a strong need for recognition. The court dismissed the case in December 2024, ruling that Böhmermann had merely read a listener's letter and clearly marked it as such, and had promptly corrected the number downward.
Unpaid costs and the warrant
Krah was ordered to cover the litigation costs. Böhmermann's lawyer Sebastian Gorski confirmed that approximately 5,000 euros had to be collected through enforcement proceedings. Krah transferred the money at the beginning of the year via his son's account, telling t-online at the time that he had wanted to pay as late as possible.
A remaining 296.26 euros stayed outstanding. In mid-July, a bailiff in Chemnitz scheduled an appointment for Krah to provide a statement of assets. Krah did not appear. The bailiff then filed an application for an arrest warrant, which the Amtsgericht Chemnitz issued.
A court spokesperson told Der Tagesspiegel that there was an application for an arrest warrant but could not confirm the warrant itself, calling the enforcement proceedings a non-public process. However, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that a person involved in the proceedings confirmed the warrant's issuance, corroborating an earlier Der Spiegel report. Böhmermann's lawyer Gorski also confirmed the warrant to Die Zeit. The FAZ noted that the court declined to comment on its own repeated inquiries.
- Böhmermann reads listener letter about 200 champagne bottles on podcast
- Landgericht Düsseldorf dismisses Krah's injunction against Böhmermann
- Krah pays approximately 5,000 euros via enforcement, through his son's account
- Krah fails to appear for bailiff's appointment in Chemnitz
- Multiple outlets report arrest warrant issued by Amtsgericht Chemnitz
Immunity and Krah's response
The court is now examining whether to request the lifting of Krah's parliamentary immunity as a Bundestag member, which would be necessary to enforce the warrant. The Amtsgericht Chemnitz has jurisdiction because Krah's electoral district is in Chemnitz.
Krah told dpa he had already paid in January and asked his lawyer to clarify the matter.
Apparently it is about an additional small amount of costs, which I will now pay.
He called Böhmermann "a creep" and said he would pay only after review, adding that recovery remained reserved.
Separate investigations
Krah faces separate legal troubles. Since May 2025, the Dresden public prosecutor's office has been investigating him for bribery and money laundering in connection with Chinese payments during his time as a member of the European Parliament. In September 2025, a former aide to Krah was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for espionage for China, convicted in Krah's former office at the European Parliament in Brussels. Krah has rejected the allegations against him.
