Buoyed by record polls, the German far right rolled out on Saturday the radical proposals of its “future plan” for the country against which thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, six weeks before the legislative elections.
“The anger of the established (parties) is increasing day by day. And why? Because we are successful,” said Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), at the opening of a congress in Riesa, in the east of the country, a stronghold of the far-right party.
The AfD is in second position in the polls for the February 23 elections, gaining further ground according to a study published on Saturday which credits the formation with 22% of the vote, behind the conservatives of the CDU/CSU camp around 30% but ahead of the Social Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz around 16%.
“Let’s get past the CDU, this party of crooks, and play politics for Germany,” urged Alice Weidel, nominated by the party to win the German chancellery.
The start of the year is promising for training in anti-migrant rhetoric and which advocates a rapprochement with Russia: it received the strong support of Elon Musk, ally and financial support of Donald Trump with whom Alice Weidel spoke more of an hour this week during a public exchange on the billionaire’s social network X.
– “Solidarity society” –
The AfD also relishes the breaking of the “sanitary cordon” against the far right in neighboring Austria where the leader of the nationalist and xenophobic FPÖ party has been entrusted with the responsibility of forming a government with the right.
As in Austria this week where rallies against the far right were held, thousands of demonstrators denounced the AfD’s projects in Riesa on Saturday.
At least 8,000 people, according to the police, converged early in the morning towards the center of the Saxon city, located between Leipzig and Dresden, managing to disrupt access and delay the start of the congress.
Among the demonstrators gathered in the bitter cold, shouting “No to the Nazis”, Julia told AFP she had come to denounce a party synonymous with “exclusion, discriminatory behavior, hatred and agitation”.
“We want to show very clearly that we are the majority, that we are in favor of opening borders, of a united society, of a society of the greatest number,” added this young girl in her twenties. years who does not want to give his last name.
Denouncing a “leftist and violent” crowd, “Nazis painted red”, Alice Weidel presented to the 600 party delegates her “future plan for Germany, which we will tackle during the first 100 days of our participation in government.
Both the German right and left have ruled out allying with the far right.
– Expel foreigners –
The AfD’s migration policy plans to “completely close the borders and push back all illegal immigrants and undocumented immigrants”, “leave the EU asylum system” and “carry out large-scale expulsions”.
“I must tell you very honestly that if it has to be called remigration, then it will be called remigration,” insisted Alice Weidel, assuming this concept of mass expulsion of foreign people or people of foreign origin.
“We will signal the end of the energy turning point and the abandonment of the EU’s climate policy,” said the 45-year-old MP, also listing a series of measures: maintaining coal-fired power stations, “demolition” of wind turbines, resumption of purchases of Russian gas and relaunch of the Nordstream gas pipeline connected to Russia and partially damaged by an explosion after the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
The party’s roadmap also provides for an exit from the EU and the euro.
The AfD congress in Riesa is planned all weekend. The police reported incidents with groups of demonstrators trying to force roadblocks and six minor injuries among the police. The organizers denounced the use by the police of pepper spray and blows against groups of demonstrators.
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