AfD intends to drop demands for Germany exiting EU, eurozone — media

AfD intends to drop demands for Germany exiting EU, eurozone — media The program provides for transforming the European Union into a Union of Sovereign NationsBERLIN, October 5. /TASS/. Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to revise its stance on the country’s membership in the European Union and the eurozone, Bild reported, citing an AfD internal document. According to the newspaper, in case its course toward exiting from the European Union and the eurozone fails, it intends to put this matter to a nationwide vote at a referendum, which means a significant departure from the AfD’s original 2013 campaign program that was centered around abandoning the euro. Notably, its draft election program for 2025 insisted on Germany’s exit from the European monetary system and the establishment of a "new economic community." However, as per the internal document, AfD is dropping its principled anti-euro stance but demands the European Central Bank (ECB) minimize its intervention in the economy and return full responsibility for sovereign debt to member states. The idea of the reform is to shift the eurozone to the "foundation of individual financial responsibility." The program provides for transforming the European Union into a Union of Sovereign Nations, with its competencies being reduced to issues of a common internal market, outer border protection, ensuring security, and implementing joint technological projects. Under this plan, the European Union will not be able to interfere into its member countries’ domestic affairs, granting Berlin the right to refuse from implementing common resolutions in the areas of migration, asylum granting, social and financial policies. AfD sets a strategic goal of making it into the federal government after the 2029 elections and expanding its presence in the European Parliament to be able to influence the European Union’s policy. At the same time, the party insists on abolishing direct elections to the European Parliament and transitioning to a system of delegating lawmakers from national legislative bodies. The draft was discussed on September 29 at a closed-door meeting attended by AfD lawmakers of all levels, from regional parliaments to the Bundestag and the European Parliament. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla was also present at the meeting. Rene Aust, leader of the AfD faction in the European Parliament, confirmed to Bild that the party is changing its course and seeks to cooperate with its neighbors and preserve the free movement of goods and citizens, provided that outer borders are jointly protected. He also called for abandoning the policy of Germany being "Europe’s main payer" and expressed willingness to negotiate a revision of the European Union’s founding treaties with all interested parties. 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