Which way is the EU shifting politically?
A friend of the party is defending the SS perspective of AfD politician Krah. EU Commission President von der Leyen desires being elected by populists. In the ARD talk show "Hart aber fair," guests discuss if the EU could face issues with right-wing inclinations.
This is quite unusual in a talk show: The viewers break into spontaneous laughter. AfD politician Leif-Erik Holm encountered this during the evening in "Hart aber fair." The topic of the show centers around whether populists could potentially triumph in the forthcoming European votes. The issue is not addressed. But the viewers can observe what would happen if this came to pass.
The recent week has been difficult for the far-right AfD. AfD leading candidate Maximilian Krah granted an interview in the neoliberal newspaper "La Republica" about German history. In it, he expressed an opinion concerning the SS: "There was a considerable portion of criminals, yet not all were criminals. I will never assert that every individual wearing an SS uniform was instantly a wrongdoer." This pronouncement angered not only the AfD: The right-wing fraction "Identity and Democracy" in the European Parliament expelled the entire AfD faction the previous Thursday. AfD co-leader Weidel dissociates herself from Krah, allowing an employee to mention that Krah is no longer the lead candidate.
Even Leif-Erik Holm from the AfD could have distanced himself from Krah during "Hart aber fair." However, he does not contemplate doing so. When inquired by moderator Klamroth about this, Holm replies: "To scrutinize this matter, you can perceive that Mr. Krah expresses himself inelegantly in this regard." While the audience laughs, the guests display bewilderment and fury. FDP lead candidate for the European elections, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, had already criticized previously: "Krah has dirt on his hands and wants to attend the European Parliament." Now CDU politician Julia Klöckner interferes: "You can't just ignore that. First, the quote is refuted, then it is diminished, and in the end, it's a misinterpretation."
Gordon Repinski, editor-in-chief of the German office of Politico, attempts to make sense to the AfD politician. "Mr. Holm, it would serve you well to disassociate yourself from this right now. Even Marine Le Pen has done so."
However, Holm persists in defending Krah: Others espoused similar beliefs before, says Holm: Adenauer, Kohl, Kurt Schumacher. What Krah stated was insignificant. Krah aimed to elucidate the criminal nature of the SS in Italy, which is the reason the AfD challenges him, declares Holm.
Journalist Gordon Repinski describes the consequences of remarks like Krah's on the AfD: While support for right-wing parties is expanding in most European countries, it is diminishing in Germany. Following the European election, AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel intends to hold discussions with Marine Le Pen, the chief of the French right-wing extremist party Rassemblement National. She likely isn't interested in the AfD, states Holm.
There are two factions of right-wing parties in the European Parliament: the ECR "European Conservatives and Reformers," which encompasses right-wing populists like the Polish PiS party, and the "Identity and Democracy" (ID) faction, which consists of right-wing, right-wing extremist, and EU-hostile parties. The AfD was a component of this faction until the European election and now sits without a faction.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann mentions a recent fact that has alarmed numerous democrats: Former EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the CDU has not rejected being backed by individuals from the ECR in her office. Strack-Zimmermann: "What's genuinely fascinating at this time, when the extremists are shifting: Can the democratic parties cooperate? That necessitates a plethora of compromises." Von der Leyen has made it known that she intends to work alongside Italian Prime Minister Meloni, who is a part of a post-fascist party, and the right in France. "That's an issue, and that worries me," says Strack-Zimmermann.
When listening to Julia Klöckner, it's hard to believe in a coalition of democratic parties. The Greens are accused by her of being against the asylum law, and 50% of the SPD too. Coalitions with right-wing factions will not occur, and we will only collaborate with individual politicians who support freedom, Europe, and the rule of law. Hence, also with Meloni.
The EU Parliament's Vice President, Katharina Barley from the SPD, expresses her shock at Meloni's plans to control public broadcasting and the previously independent judiciary. Meloni wants to pass a parliamentary reform that would give the winning party 55% of the parliamentary seats. Her brother-in-law, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, supports the idea of a population exchange. The Parliament President has shown the Hitler salute in the Parliament, and Barley comments, "That's Duce."
Klöckner takes a relaxed stance, saying, "Anything that goes against the Social Democrats is immediately labeled as right-wing populist and right-wing extremist." It's ultimately about whether decisions will be made in Europe, even when the Social Democrats and Greens oppose them. "Then you have to negotiate," says Barley. "However, it's impossible to work with right-wing populists."
In the afternoon, the French president delivered a speech in Dresden on European politics, where he cautioned, "Our Europe could die if we make the wrong choices." Might he also have been thinking about von der Leyen?
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The right-wing AfD party faced backlash after their leading candidate, Maximilian Krah, made controversial remarks about the SS during an interview. This led to the expulsion of the entire AfD faction from the European Parliament's "Identity and Democracy" faction. In the same context, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not ruled out being elected by populist parties, sparking discussions about the potential influence of right-wing inclinations in European elections.
Source: www.ntv.de
