Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has vowed to restore German-Russian ties and end the boycott of Russian oil and gas. Weidel made the comments ahead of September elections in two key eastern German states, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the AfD is dominating polls.
Economic Concerns
Weidel argued that cheap energy from Russia was the secret to Germany’s economic success and that the loss of this energy has set the country back years. She also stated that the AfD can win the two key federal state elections, which would be a milestone in securing the post of German chancellor.
The AfD’s pro-Russian stance has been criticized by other parties, with Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of parliament from the Christian Democrats, saying that the AfD’s romanticization of Russia is distorting the public debate in Germany.
Energy Crisis
Germany has struggled to recover from the shock caused by the shutdown of the key undersea Nord Stream pipeline, which was crippled by explosions in 2022. The country’s industry remains in the doldrums, with car giant Volkswagen considering cutting as many as 100,000 jobs.
Weidel’s comments highlight the potential fragility of the Western alliance underpinning support for Ukraine. Although Germany’s current government backs Ukraine, the population is more divided, with many in the east taking a sympathetic stance towards Russia and a critical view of Germany’s military protector, the United States.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
