EPP boss Weber: Far-right Alternative for Germany ‘absolutely toxic’

The leader of the European People’s Party, a major centre-right political group in the European Parliament, distanced himself from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after revelations the two had worked together.

EPP leader Manfred Weber said, “We have no fixed coalitions in the European Parliament. But what I reject is the idea that there is any structured, systemic cooperation with the AfD. That does not exist,” Weber told an event in Augsburg on Thursday.

Weber rejected the notion that there was any radicalization or adoption of AfD positions in legislation, saying this, too, was not the case. The AfD is “an absolutely toxic party,” he said.

He reiterated earlier statements that he did not know about communications between members of his parliamentary group and far-right parties that reveal they closely cooperated on a contentious EU migration bill.

But, he said, problems in Europe must be solved. “Otherwise, we will not stop the populists.” The migration issue is – “whether we like it or not” – one of the major issues.

“We must ensure that we maintain order at the external border, that the state decides who comes in and not the gangs of people-smugglers, and that we can also send back those who are rejected,” said Weber. “And if we succeed in that, then we can also talk about the second point, namely that we need immigration on a massive scale.”

Weber went on to say: “I now want to build a strong, defensible Europe and want to ask AfD supporters: Do you seriously believe the rubbish they’re telling you – that the nation can manage on its own today?”

Mainstream parties generally distance themselves from far-right groupings in what is known as a “firewall” in German politics, so the revelation that the EPP worked with the AfD and other far-right parties shocked many.

The investigation showed the EPP recently worked together with the far-right in a chat group and at a face-to-face meeting of MEPs on a draft proposal for a migration law. Weber had insisted of the AfD, “The firewall is in place.”