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Co-leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD) Alexander Gauland gives a speech during his party’s meeting on January 13, 2019 in Riesa near Dresden, eastern Germany. Photo: AFP

Dawn of ‘Dexit’? German far-right AfD party to campaign on leaving EU

  • Members at a party conference also voted for a call to abolish the European Parliament, which AfD candidates will be campaigning to join in spring
Germany

German far-right party AfD voted on Sunday to campaign for Berlin’s exit from the EU in the upcoming European Parliament elections if its demand for reforms within the bloc are not met.

The decision marks the first time any party has called for “Dexit” – a German departure from the EU in the mould of Brexit.

A delegate at the AfD meeting on January 13, 2019. Photo: EPA

If the EU is not reshaped in line with the party’s ideas “in an appropriate time frame”, Germany must leave the bloc, according to the draft manifesto agreed by delegates at a party congress in eastern Saxony state.

Congress attendees also voted through a call to abolish the European Parliament – the same Brussels body the AfD candidates will be campaigning to join this spring.

“We see nation-states as having the exclusive competence to make laws,” the text read, blasting the “751 privileged members” of the present European house.

While both demands are now in the draft manifesto, a final vote later on Sunday will adopt or reject the entire campaign package.

Elections for the European Parliament will take place in May.

AfD was originally founded as a Eurosceptic party, but rose to its current strength and representation in Germany’s national parliament after right-wingers took over and switched its focus to opposing Islam and immigration.

Gauland shakes hands with AfD parliamentary group co-leader Alice Weidel by AfD member Georg Pazderski (right) at the party’s meeting on January 13, 2019. Photo: AFP

Like other nationalist movements around the continent, its leaders argue too much power has been transferred to Brussels, saying the EU has far outgrown its origins in economic cooperation.

“We don’t need to abolish the EU, but bring it back to its sensible core,” AfD leader Alexander Gauland told delegates on Saturday before the vote, saying the party “has partners that would walk the path with us” like Austria’s FPOe or Italy’s Lega.

Concerned about scaring off potential voters in majority pro-EU Germany, party chiefs warned the congress against even harder proposals that would have called for an exit if AfD’s reform demands were not imposed by 2024.

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