Germany’s AfD leader says party wants to 'rebuild, reform' EU

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - The co-leader of Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party urged “ rebuilding and reforming the European Union” on Wednesday.

“From our perspective, we believe that the European Union, in its current form, is in great need of reform. We would like to rebuild and reform the European Union,” Alice Weidel said at a media briefing in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where she presented the party’s EU policy paper.

The AfD wants “to advance reform initiatives at the European level,” she said.

Weidel urged slashing EU powers, while strengthening national sovereignties.

“We need to rebuild the European Union. We need to put back the competencies back to the national parliaments and governments. They need to take over the decision-making process,“ she said.

The AfD chairwoman also urged the need “to reform European treaties.”

“If the European Union fails in the major task being written in the European treaties, we should have a veto right to opt out. I am sorry to say, this is chaos and chaotic circumstances,” she said.

Weidel warned of declining living standards for Europeans and major economic woes in Europe.

“Europeans are becoming poorer; we are experiencing a glaring loss of purchasing power, and we have an inflationary currency,” she said.

Weidel said the EU is also increasingly losing global importance in resolving international crises, like the war in Ukraine.

“From the perspective of the US, Russia and China, we no longer play any significant role --and that should serve as a warning shot for us all,” she added.