Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is reassessing its longstanding calls for the country to leave the European Union and the euro, according to a strategy paper presented by co-leader Alice Weidel and reported by Reuters.
The proposal prioritizes renegotiating EU treaties to create a looser union, allowing exemptions from shared policies and enforcing budget rules more strictly. It does not make euro-area withdrawal an immediate objective. A referendum on leaving the currency could be considered if the proposed reforms fail.
The shift comes as the AfD seeks to expand its political influence. A more pragmatic approach to the EU could make cooperation with Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) less difficult, while the country’s export-driven economy remains closely tied to European markets and the common currency.
The party remains divided over Europe. A youth-wing proposal that placed greater emphasis on a shared European identity was withdrawn after failing to secure sufficient support. The extent to which the AfD will move away from its traditional euroscepticism therefore remains uncertain.
