The AFD leader’s message to the world • Demonstrator: “A people-despising and dangerous party”
The live conversation between Alice Weidel and Elon Musk took place on the social media platform X. After the hour-long discussion with the world’s richest man, she has become world famous.
Now she has been formally chosen as a candidate for the chancellor post in the new German election by her far-right AFD party, and she immediately demanded drastic measures at Germany’s borders.
– Close the borders completely and turn away every illegal and undocumented person who tries to enter. And send a very clear message to the whole world: Germany’s borders are closed, she told the cheering congressmen.
The AFD party is currently at around 20 percent in opinion polls and could become Germany’s second largest party after the Christian Democrats at the new election on February 23.
Radical party program before the election
AFD’s party congress continues on Sunday, and the delegates will vote on the party program. These are radical proposals that will be put forward, also for AFD.
Germany is to leave the EU and the euro, and in the longer term also NATO. The sanctions against Russia must be abolished, the Nord Stream II gas pipeline must be repaired and the import of Russian gas must be resumed. Abortions must be banned in almost all cases, taxes must be cut significantly and benefits must be dramatically cut.
But it is the migration issue that is at the top of the party’s agenda.
– Abolish social benefits for people without residence status and carry out large-scale deportations. And I have to be completely honest, if it needs to be called remigration, then it will be called remigration, says Alice Weidel.
It is the first time that the AFD has embraced the concept of “remigration” – which refers to people who have lived in Germany for a long time, but have roots in other countries, to be asked – or forced – to leave the country.
Large demonstrations outside the congress
According to the police, around 10,000 people demonstrated against AFD outside the congress. Riots broke out in several places as protesters tried to stop delegates from entering the convention grounds.
Janina Körber has taken a bus all night from her hometown of Munich to Riesa, south of Berlin, where the AFD is holding its meeting.
– AFD is simply a fascist, people-despising and really dangerous party, says Janina Körber from Munich to TV4’s broadcaster.