by Markus Langemann //
In the interview with the business channel Bloomberg Television, Dr. Alice Weidel, Federal Chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and her party's first candidate for chancellor, answered questions from reporter Oliver Crook. The focus was primarily on Weidel's political positions regarding German energy and migration policy, her view of the European Union and foreign policy issues, such as her relationship with the USA. The interview is particularly exciting for several reasons: while other candidates often only differ on nuances in climate or European policy, Weidel presents a contrasting overall program - from a return to nuclear power to "Dexit". With her criticism of current energy, migration and tax policies, she specifically addresses voters who no longer feel represented by the established parties. It is worth reading or recording this interview, above all because it provides an insight into a possible change in policy that would be more radical in many respects than anything that other candidates are promising.
Whether you agree with Weidel's positions or not, they are part of the democratic discourse. What is interesting here is the perspective on the largest German opposition party from a foreign medium. It is therefore essential for the Club of Clear Words to present these perspectives and put them up for discussion.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television in Berlin, Dr. Alice Weidel, candidate for chancellor of the AfD, argues that her party is mislabeled as "far right" or "extreme right". Instead, she describes the AfD as a "libertarian conservative party in Germany", which, according to Weidel, is striving to introduce "real reforms" in order to "get the country back on track". According to Weidel, Germany is facing major problems after years under Angela Merkel and under the current "traffic light government".
We have summarized the key topics of the interview here.
Energy policy and the economy
One of the central topics that Weidel addresses is energy policy. She emphasizes that Germany is the only industrialized country that has completely shut down its nuclear power plants and is now relying solely on renewable energies. She sharply criticizes this as unrealistic:
"Germany is the only country having switched off nuclear power plants. So this country government has imposed an obnoxious policymaking... It is not serious, right?"
Instead, she calls for a return to a diversified energy supply based on nuclear energy, gas and coal. She describes high energy prices as the main reason why many companies are moving abroad:
"We want to have cheap energy and secure energy in Germany. This is what I stand for... Otherwise, our entire companies get bankrupt, or they go abroad."
Weidel also criticizes what she sees as the excessive tax burden on the German middle class:
"Taxes are too high, so a middle class taxpayer... has to pay over half. So I think there is a lot of room of real policymaking, lowering taxes..."
Migration policy and border controls
Weidel cites the reintroduction of effective border controls as another political priority, as she sees Germany in the midst of a migration crisis. According to Weidel, entries are taking place "without any controls":
"We are in the middle of a migration crisis. We got a million influx of immigrants, illegals, we don't know. Germany actually has, literally has no borders..."
She blames both the previous and the current government for this. Crime rates are rising, the social systems are overburdened and the population is being deprived of their security.
Attitude towards the European Union and the "Dexit" debate
An important focus of the interview is Weidel's critical view of the EU and its institutions in particular. Weidel makes it clear that the AfD is not fundamentally opposed to European cooperation, but considers the current system to be undemocratic:
"We don't see that the European Union in its current state is an institution that is working well. We need to have free trade among the European countries, but we don't need all the bureaucracy."
It is in favor of treaty reforms and the introduction of a veto right for member states. In the event of an exit from the EU (in the sense of a "dexit"), a country should automatically become part of a free trade zone. Weidel emphasizes that a withdrawal is not synonymous with an end to cooperation in Europe:
"If a country wants to leave the European Union, why not automatically fall into a free trade zone?"
A look at the USA and Donald Trump
When asked about Donald Trump's possible election victory in the USA, Weidel clearly expresses her sympathy:
"I actually put my thumbs up for Donald Trump. We have huge hopes... I really hope that he puts an end on this terrible war in the Ukraine."
She criticizes what she sees as Trump's one-sided portrayal in the media and hopes that a new Trump administration will be able to end the war in Ukraine diplomatically. Weidel is also relaxed about possible punitive tariffs on German cars and Trump's general trade policy. German companies have long since opened plants in the USA, partly due to what she sees as Germany's misguided energy policy.
Foreign policy and NATO
The topic of NATO also comes up in the interview. Weidel makes it clear that although the AfD is not opposed to Germany's membership of NATO, it wants to anchor European interests more firmly within the defense alliance. Europe must develop its "own security policy pillar":
"We need to contribute to NATO. But it's also our responsibility to formulate our national interests, because our national interest is quite different from the US."
According to Weidel, the war in Ukraine in particular shows that Europe's security policy interests are partly different to those of the USA.
Conclusion
The interview with Dr. Alice Weidel reveals a self-image of the AfD that presents itself as "libertarian-conservative" and clearly differentiates itself from the established parties. According to Weidel, her policies focus on limiting immigration, lowering taxes and a change of course in energy policy towards nuclear power, gas and coal. Her criticism of German government action - whether in migration, tax or energy policy - runs through all areas. In addition, Weidel outlines a vision for a drastically reformed European Union in which national interests and "democracy from below" take center stage instead of a strong Brussels Commission.
While some of her positions - such as a possible exit from the EU or a return to Russian gas - are likely to be controversial, the interview nevertheless shows that Weidel wants to go into the election campaign with clear, albeit sharply worded, positions. It remains to be seen whether this approach will meet with approval or continue to polarize opinion.
Editor's note: The interview with the foreign policy spokesperson of the BSWThe interview with Sevim Dağdelen, member of the Bundestag, provides deep insights into the positions of this opposition party, which is contesting the upcoming Bundestag elections for the first time. You can see the full interview here.
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8 Responses
Was braucht ein neuer Bundeskanzler?
. Klare visionäre Ziele, der Wille zur Umkehr um den Schaden zu reparieren.
. Rückgrat einen steinigen Weg zu beschreiten. Am Ende wartet kein Dank.
. Charakter um sich wahrhaftig gegen die Lügen und Medien zu stellen.
. Eine weisse Weste ohne schmutzige Vergangenheit. Also nicht erpressbar.
. Einen klugen Verstand, der in einfacher Sprache erklärt und vermittelt.
. Realitätsbewusstsein um zu erkennen, was möglich und sinnvoll ist.
. Einsatz von notwendiger Diplomatie, für den Frieden, gegen Krieg.
. Lebenserfahrung und Bürgernähe, denn gemeinsame Sorgen verbinden.
. Friedlicher Wiederstand trotz Anfeindungen. Argumente statt Parolen.
. Glaube, das der Weg bereits das Ziel ist, hin zu positiven Verbesserungen.
Fazit: Eigentlich unmöglich denken sie? Und doch, es gibt Sie!
Quelle: M. Stoltze, Dez. 2024
I am certain that nothing will be discussed controversially in the future.
Anyone with more than two synapses has long since come to the same conclusions as Dr. Weidel, while the mortal enemies of reality, sanity and humanity continue to spew their psychotic filth. There has long been no overlap between these two camps, if there ever was one, which I doubt.
However, since people tend to draw conclusions about others from themselves, not everyone in the sane camp has noticed that the other side is only on the opposite side because it simply does not meet the minimum requirements for participation in humanity. So, as always, this is exactly what this type projects onto us.
Everything is actually very simple.
Unfortunately you MUST agree with Weidel!
The EU is an illegitimate dictatorship, but not actually a state, and therefore neither capable of issuing directives, nor parliamentary. There has also been no vote on this in almost ANY member state.
And the sad thing about it is that the EU does not create prosperity - it only increases poverty.
The EC/EEC worked much better than this bloated, pointless construct for the oppression of the peoples!
An interview in which the interviewee can answer without interruption....... is very pleasant.
All populist, unobjective claims from the mainstream about the AFD are confirmed here by Alice Weidl as lies. Anyone who cannot follow this political approach and the reform proposals obviously does not mean well with the rest of this country or has a "concrete wall" for a brain.
Good luck in the new year to all those who think for themselves
And Ms. Weidel also speaks perfect American English! That's good! Great woman!
No wonder! She worked at Goldman Sachs in New York for several years.
So what is "diabolical" about these positions? In energy policy? Anyone who goes against the whole world, which relies on nuclear technology and gas, and shuts down nuclear power plants and new coal-fired power plants, is coming out as a 21st century iconoclast and Madchinist. There can be no two opinions about this. Unless you take the purely ideological view of the Greens, who grew up with anti-nuclear in an unthinking and childish way. It's clear that this would put the competitiveness of the German economy at extreme risk. And only for people who, like the Marxist faction of the Greens, have fundamental problems with capitalism. - Migration policy? For anyone who does not subscribe to the ideological mindset of "no human being is illegal", it should be clear that a state must control its borders. While the Anglo countries now meticulously control who is allowed to come to them, we are now the social welfare office of the world. Can that be a good thing? Only if the aim is to lower the level of prosperity. - Dexit? I think you have to realize that Dexit is just a threat to bring about reforms in the EU, which are urgently needed. The EU has become the largest bureaucracy in the world and its economic dynamism is too weak. Reforms are necessary, but are being blocked by the bureaucrats and beneficiaries. Who disagrees? The beneficiaries and the Social Christian Democrats who are responsible for this. - Trump and the USA? You have to talk to Trump, demonizing him is useless. But if you don't have a strong economy and a risky energy policy, you don't have a good hand. What's wrong with that? Foreign policy and NATO? Weidel says that we must learn to better represent our interests in NATO because they are not identical to those of the USA. The Ukraine war should be ended because it benefits no one. What is wrong with that? Conclusion: Weidel and the AfD represent realistic positions, which, however, run contrary to what the ruling cartel of Green-Social-Christian Democrats has built up and aggressively defends as "our policy". Their errors are obvious and become clearer every day. All the more aggressively do the perpetrators oppose them.
The European Parliament is the extended perversion of the Bundestag. The sick spirit that pervades politics is prevented from mutating into a dictatorship by all kinds of regulations in the Bundestag. These regulations and security mechanisms no longer exist in the EU Parliament. No democratic basis has even been introduced there that could show the limits of this unrealistic nonsense. Any politician who moves into Brussels is stripped of all decency. At all times, the incompetent in politics were sent to Brussels. Brussels has become institutionalized corruption. If you want to understand the incompetence and corruptibility of this institution, you should read the history of ITER. Not only was the most nonsensical project launched here, but fusion research was deprived of all its innovation.