Political parties debate European policies ahead of Germany's national elections.
Ricarda Lang, the head of the Green Party, labeled the post-WWII peace in Europe as a "miracle" and emphasized the need to protect it. She mentioned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a test of Europe's security policy and urged it to stand firm against both external and internal threats. Additionally, Lang urged stronger actions on climate change.
Achim Post, the second-in-command of the SPD, cautioned against the rise of extreme groups. He said, "We must not undo what we have achieved - not our democracy, not our freedom, not our Europe, not from the far left and definitely not from the far right." Post emphasized peace, security, economic growth, climate protection, and social cohesion.
The E.U.'s candidate for the FDP, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, lauded the E.U. as the "greatest peace project since people have climbed trees." However, she points out the E.U.'s shortcomings. "It's sluggish, has become slow-moving, no longer thinks about the big picture, but about small details," she said critically of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU). Strack-Zimmermann also advocated for a European defense union. "We need to look to the future and gradually piece together our army."
Gunther Krichbaum, the E.U. political spokesman for the CDU, stated that the German economy's weakness is also affecting Germany's influence on a European level. "We are increasingly on the margins of the European Union," he said. Krichbaum further criticized Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) for his absence in "critical meetings" in Brussels, claiming that it hinders the representation of German interests.
Tino Chrupalla, the leader of the AfD party, slammed the dysfunctional E.U., calling it "expensive and harmful to German interests." He argued for a strong European entity, spreading from Vladivostok to Lisbon, and away from the Cold War-driven East and West division. Chrupalla also wants the E.U. to avoid becoming "the prolonged arm of NATO."
Over the coming days, the citizens of the 27 member states will elect a new E.U. Parliament, with the Netherlands and Ireland having already held their elections on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Most countries will vote on Sunday, including Germany.
As per recent polls, the Union appears most likely to become the dominant force on Sunday, with the Greens potentially experiencing losses. In a separate survey, the CDU/CSU combination earned 30% of the vote, just above their 2019 European election result. The Greens were pegged at 14%, down about six percentage points from their five years ago. The SPD likewise received 14%, as did the AfD. The FDP secured 4%, while the Left garnered 3%, and the BSW unexpectedly gained 7%, with Volt attaining 3% of the votes.
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- Democracy, as embodied by the European Union and its member states, is a common value that political parties in Germany are debating ahead of the national elections.
- Gunther Krichbaum, from the Union parliamentary group and the CDU, is concerned about Germany's influence on a European level, citing the country's economic weakness.
- The FDP, represented by Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann in the upcoming European elections, believes in a stronger European defense union and criticizes the EU's sluggishness and focus on small details.
- Achim Post, second-in-command of the SPD, is cautious about the rise of extreme groups and stresses the importance of protecting democracy, freedom, and Europe in the face of threats.
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been a test of Europe's security policy, according to Ricarda Lang, the head of the Green Party, who urged unity and firmness against internal and external threats.
- The European elections will see the citizens of 27 member states elect a new European Parliament, with Germany voting on Sunday, and the FDP forecasted to secure 4% of the votes, among other parties.
- Tino Chrupalla, leader of the AfD party, advocates for a strong European entity with a focus on economic interests, and criticizes the EU for becoming "the prolonged arm of NATO."
- Gunther Krichbaum further criticized Economics Minister Robert Habeck for his absence in "critical meetings" in Brussels, claiming it hinders the representation of German interests in the EU.
- Germany's national elections come amidst the challenges of European policy, including climate change, economic growth, and security, and the need to confront these issues collectively as a union.
- The SPD, along with other parties like the AfD and FDP, will also be vying for seats in the upcoming European elections, with polls suggesting the Union and CDU/CSU combination as the likely dominant forces, while the Greens may experience losses.
- Politicians and parties in Brussels will carefully watch the results of the European elections, as they will have significant implications for the direction of European policy, including choices on climate change, defense, and unity against external and internal threats.
