From Le Figaro with AFP
Published 1 hour ago, updated 57 minutes ago
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Inspired by record polls that have put it in second place nationwide for several months ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party, the German right-wing extremist is showing its will to govern.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is rising in the polls, plans to hold a referendum on Germany's exit from the European Union if it comes to power, its co-leader Alice Weidel said in an interview published on Monday. “If reform is not possible, if we fail to restore the sovereignty of EU member states, we should let the people decide, as the UK did,” Ms Weidel told the Financial Times. “We could organize a referendum on 'Dexit' – a German exit from the EU,” she added, calling the UK's departure from the EU “a model for Germany.” European Union after the 2016 referendum.
AfD member is running for chancellor in 2025
Buoyed by record polls that have given it second place nationwide for several months (around 22%), ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party and just behind the conservatives, the German right-wing extremist is showing its will to govern. The next state election will take place in 2025 and the AfD will nominate a candidate for chancellor for the first time. The major parties, on the other hand, have ruled out allying and governing with this anti-EU and anti-immigrant formation as the political landscape becomes increasingly fragmented and coalitions form at national and regional levels.
Huge demonstrations against the AfD
There are three important regional elections in the east of the country in September and the AfD is leading the opinion polls with over 30%. At its party conference this summer, the AfD reaffirmed its Eurosceptic beliefs in a Germany where EU membership continues to be supported by a very large majority of the population. The AfD has been in turmoil for 10 days after it emerged that several of its members, including a close friend of Ms. Weidel, had discussed the mass expulsion of people of foreign origin during a recent ultra-identity rally. These revelations caused an electric shock in Germany, where huge demonstrations have been taking place across the country for several days against the AfD, which is accused of posing a threat to democracy.