Germany's AfD questions NATO, EU ties in controversial remarks
In an interview with "Die Welt," the co-chair of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Tino Chrupalla, questioned the sense of Germany's presence in NATO and the European Union. He claimed that Russia had already won the war and that handing over Taurus missiles to Ukraine would draw Germany into the military conflict.
In the interview published on Sunday, Chrupalla stated that NATO has ceased to be a defensive alliance and suggested that Germany should consider the benefits of membership.
A defense community must accept and respect the interests of all European countries — including Russia's interests. If NATO cannot ensure that, Germany must consider to what extent this alliance is still useful for us, he said.
Referring to the proposal for Germany's exit from the European Union, included in the AfD's proposed electoral program, Chrupalla described it as a "maximum demand." He emphasized that the party envisions replacing the EU with an "economic and interest community."
He said bHe said that before leaving, clear rules for the new organization must be agreed upon. The program will be approved at the party congress in January.
The politician also warned against supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles, claiming that such a move would mean Germany's involvement in the war.
Whoever votes for Friedrich Merz votes for war, he stated, referring to Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor in the Bundestag elections scheduled for 2025.
Chrupalla assessed that "the German government must finally get to the point of wanting to end the war" because "Russia has won this war." He said that the "reality has caught up with those who claim to want to enable Ukraine to win the war." Alice Weidel, the second co-chair of the AfD, is the candidate for chancellor of this right-wing populist, pro-Russian party.
In pre-election polls, AfD achieves support at 17 to 20 percent, placing it second after the CDU/CSU bloc with a result of 30 to 34 percent. In the European Parliament, AfD belongs to the Identity and Democracy faction, while the Polish Confederation, represented by three MEPs, is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
