The anti-mass migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has criticised the German political establishment for their “hysterical” reaction to the election victory of U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump.
AfD vice-chair Alexander Gauland also called the reaction of the German establishment “shameful” and chastised specifically Defence Minister Ursula Von der Leyen and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for their “embarrassing” reaction, reports Kurier.
“I call on all German politicians, no matter what party affiliation, to moderation and prudence in this matter,” Gauland said.
Defence Minister Leyen had said the victory of Donald Trump was a “great shock” and was concerned about the direction it would take the U.S. Gauland responded to her comments saying: “I expect the German Minister of Defence will not fall into shock, but will work on a reasonable transatlantic security partnership with the new U.S. administration.”
Foreign Minister Steinmeier had said on Wednesday: “The result is not to be underestimated. The result is different from what most people in Germany desired. But of course we have to accept it.” He added: “We must adjust to the fact that American foreign policy will get less predictable in the near future.”
Gauland stated that the comments from the foreign minister were “driven by low emotions and personal animosities”, adding: “It is highly embarrassing how hysterical the rest of the government team is.”
The AfD vice-chair stated: “Germany must learn to act more independently,” referencing Trump’s earlier speeches in which he said that European countries must pay more into alliances like NATO to ease the financial burden on the U.S.
Earlier this year, Mr. Gauland called German Chancellor Angela Merkel a “dictator” and said that due to the migrant influx Germans were feeling like strangers in their own country. “We are open-minded, we are tolerant, we are not against foreigners. But it is our country! And it is our people! And it is not the land of strangers,” he noted.
The AfD vice-chair has also been at the forefront of his party’s opposition to the Islamisation of Germany and advocates the shutting down of radical mosques. Earlier this year he said: “Islam is not a religion like Catholic or Protestant Christianity,” affirming: “It is always intellectually linked with taking over the state.”
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