Germany's AfD seeks new alliances in EU Parliament after expulsion

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Jun 2024 21:00

The expulsion from the ID group, which previously included France's National Rally (RN) and Italy's League as partners, came in the wake of scandals involving AfD's top candidate for the recent EU polls.

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An election poster of the German AfD party is fixed on a lamp pole in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, June 10, 2024. (AP)

After facing expulsion from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, Germany's right-wing party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), is on the lookout for new partners in the European Parliament.

Senior AfD member and co-leader Alice Weidel stated on Thursday that the party will explore alternative alliances, expressing confidence in their ability to find a way forward.

"We will continue to explore the options for alternative alliances," Weidel said.

The expulsion from the ID group, which previously included France's National Rally (RN) and Italy's League as partners, came in the wake of scandals involving AfD's top candidate for the recent EU polls, Maximilian Krah.

Krah's remarks downplaying the crimes of the Nazi SS and allegations of ties to Russia and China prompted the group's decision.

Despite the AfD's attempt to expel Krah from its delegation in the parliament, ID group politicians, including RN leader Marine Le Pen, have reportedly declined to readmit the AfD at present.

Weidel noted that the party is yet to receive an official statement from Marine Le Pen's RN and indicated a desire to gather more information before making further decisions. She mentioned intentions to reach out to contacts in Brussels for insight.

In the EU elections, the AfD secured second place in Germany, surpassing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and trailing only the conservative CDU-CSU bloc.

Founded initially in 2013 as an anti-euro group before shifting focus to anti-immigration sentiments, the AfD has witnessed a resurgence amid Germany's challenges with increased migration and economic struggles.

Following their decisive victory at last week's elections at the European Parliament, Marine Le Pen declared her party's readiness to take power in France.

"We are ready to exercise power if the French people place their trust in us in these upcoming parliamentary elections," Le Pen announced in Paris on Sunday evening.

"We are ready to rebuild the country, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to this mass migration, ready to make the purchasing power of the French a priority, ready to start re-industrializing the country," she added.

Shortly after the victory was announced, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the country's parliament and called for snap legislative elections.

He acknowledged that the outcome of the EU elections is "not a good result for parties who defend Europe," noting that right-wing parties in France had managed to take almost 40% of the vote.