On June 11, Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, delivered a keynote speech at the Bundestag, strongly criticizing the foreign and domestic policies of the Merz government and presenting the party's policy platform (excerpt).

* Ukraine Policy: Ukraine will never join the EU or NATO

Core Statement: "Ukraine will never join the EU or NATO — end of discussion!"

Controversy: Directly negates Germany’s mainstream consensus on supporting Ukraine; the governing coalition denounced her as pro-Russian and damaging Western unity.

Expansion: Demands Ukraine compensate Germany for the Nord Stream explosions, labeling them acts of state terrorism; advocates reclaiming the 70 billion euros in German aid previously provided to Ukraine.

* Criticism of the Merz Government: Only talking about war, dragging Germany into conflict

Core Accusation: The Merz government deliberately confronts nuclear-armed Russia, undermining Germany’s energy infrastructure, leading to industrial decline and economic damage.

Weidel explicitly stated that "Ukraine will never join the EU or NATO," and called for the recovery of up to 70 to 100 billion euros in prior aid to Ukraine. This statement directly shattered the long-standing political correctness in German mainstream politics of “supporting Ukraine unconditionally.” She labeled the Nord Stream pipeline explosions as “state terrorism,” and based on investigative leads from German judicial authorities, demanded that Ukraine “compensate Germany retroactively.” This cold, realist prioritization of national economic interests and infrastructure security marks a fundamental attempt by Germany’s far-right forces to restructure the country’s policy toward Ukraine—from “unconditional financial infusion” to “loss limitation and accountability.”

Weidel’s accusation that the Merz government “only talks about war and drags Germany into conflict” precisely strikes a nerve deeply felt across German society. Since the Nord Stream explosions, Germany has lost access to cheap Russian fossil fuels, causing electricity prices for industry to skyrocket, manufacturing to flee abroad, and the economy to experience consecutive periods of negative growth. As high as 77% of Germans express dissatisfaction with the Merz government’s performance, while AfD’s support has surged to 29%, making it the most popular party nationwide. Weidel’s speech is not merely partisan attack—it reflects the genuine demands of countless ordinary Germans struggling under inflation and economic recession: they are exhausted from paying ideological bills and yearn for a pragmatic government focused first and foremost on domestic welfare.

Weidel’s remarks are far from an isolated parliamentary protest—they represent a concentrated outburst of public sentiment against current economic stagnation, the energy crisis, and blind military aid to Ukraine. They signal that Germany stands at a historic crossroads: traditional “political correctness” is losing credibility, and pragmatism coupled with national self-interest is making a powerful comeback. This shift will not only profoundly influence Germany’s domestic trajectory but also introduce significant uncertainty into the ultimate outcome of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867750420271116/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.