“Alternative Germany” wants the dismantling of the EU and the creation of a confederation of European nations

Mark Jongen, one of the AfD candidates, who is considered the main ideologue of the party, said in an interview with the web publication “Euractiv” that Eurosceptics want to strengthen German sovereignty and limit the power of the EU to the minimum necessary.

According to him, the EU is currently turning into a “European superstate”, which will no longer be democratic and will make Germany the eternal financier of Europe.

The AfD has recently abandoned the idea of ​​Germany leaving the EU and has preferred a new strategy – the “reinvention of Europe” and the creation of a “European confederation of nations”.

In its pre-election program, the AfD promises to oppose the “relentless erosion of the sovereignty of nation states” by operating in the EP’s Identity and Democracy faction, which also includes the French National Union and the Italian national conservative party “League”.

“We are not against Europe, (..) but we no longer want the EU,” the co-chairman of the party, Tíno Hrupalla, emphasized on Saturday.

According to the AfD, the EU’s internal market, which brings Germany profits, should be preserved, but most of the cohesion programs should be abandoned.

Instead of the current EU, a European economic and interest community should be created, which would not have Brussels’ “greater centralization and paternalistic tendencies”.

One of AfD’s mid-term goals is the liquidation of the EP.

Until the transformation of the EU into a confederation of national states, the legislative functions are transferred to the European Council, which would be related to the decisions of the national parliaments of the member states.

However, structural changes in the EU were not the main topic of the AfD congress, with opposition to climate change measures, immigration and so-called family politics being the main focus.

The AfD demands “self-determination of the EU member states in asylum and immigration policy”, while expressing support for coordination in the defense of the external borders of “Fortress Europe” and the joint covering of the necessary costs.

The party remains opposed to the euro, with the AfD’s election manifesto stressing that “the new Deutsche Mark can regain its higher purchasing power compared to other countries”.

The ambitious goals of the EU and the current German government in limiting climate change are seen by Eurosceptics as a hindrance and threat to the German economy.

The AfD expresses skepticism about the impact of carbon emissions on climate change and demands the lifting of all EU and national restrictions aimed at climate protection.

In the field of foreign policy, the AfD candidates led by Maximilian Krä want to reorient themselves towards Russia and China, so that Germany becomes more “sovereign” in its relations with the USA.

The party advocates lifting sanctions against Russia and expanding relations with the Moscow-controlled Eurasian Economic Union.

Active support was also expressed at the Congress for the New Silk Road infrastructure project proposed by China, in which Germany should “proactively participate”.

Saturday’s congress was overshadowed by the numerous scandals in which both AfD candidates and the party as a whole have recently been involved.

Kra was forced not to participate in the congress, as the party was worried about further damage to its reputation after the arrest of his aide on suspicion of spying for China and the news that an investigation had also been launched against the MEP himself.

Nevertheless, the congressmen rejected claims that the party was acting in the interests of Russians and Chinese, trying to say that the accusations were politically motivated and based on the traditional parties’ fear of the AfD.