Right-wing populists in France diverge from the AfD.
France's right-wing group, Rassemblement National (RN), has decided to end its partnership with Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the European Parliament. The RN's leader and prime candidate for the European elections, Jordan Bardella, made this decision. According to Alexandra Loubet, the campaign manager, they will no longer "sit" with the AfD in parliament.
Previously, AfD's primary candidate for the European election campaign, Maximilian Krah, made insignificant statements about the Waffen SS in an Italian newspaper "La Repubblica." Krah claimed that he'd never state that anyone wearing an SS uniform was instantly a criminal. Moreover, he mentioned that various farmers formed part of the 900,000 SS soldiers. "There was a high percentage of criminals, but not only them," said Krah.
Both RN and AfD are part of the Identity and Democracy (ID) faction in the European Parliament. However, fractures have become obvious lately as Marine Le Pen, the head of the RN, distanced herself from the AfD. She did so on behalf of RN after the secret meeting on "remigration" and threatened to terminate the partnership.
Furthermore, in late February, AfD's head, Alice Weidel, visited Paris. Despite having cordial discussions, Loubet states that "nothing was learned from them." As a result, they're now "drawing the consequences."
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The French right-wing group RN, criticizing AfD's stance on the Waffen SS, finds it challenging to maintain their partnership with the German party. Maximilian Krah, the AfD's primary candidate, caused controversy by downplaying the criminality of SS soldiers in an Italian newspaper.
Source: www.ntv.de
