Two AfD politicians’ planned trip to Russia sparked outrage. Party leader Alice Weidel clearly distanced herself and doubted the usefulness of the project. One of the MPs canceled his participation again.
AfD leader Alice Weidel sharply criticized Bundestag faction members’ planned trip to Russia and announced the consequences within the party. “I don’t understand what is really happening,” Weidel said on Tuesday in his group’s statement to the Bundestag. “I wouldn’t go there myself, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone because I don’t know what the end result will be.”
Last week, a planned trip to Russia by AfD Bundestag members Steffen Kotré and Rainer Rothfuß drew cross-party criticism. The news portal “T-online” reported on Thursday about the planned trip of AfD politicians to Sochi and the planned meeting with the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev.
Group leader Weidel now announced that Rothfuß had decided “on his own initiative (…) after numerous discussions with his colleagues” not to take part in the trip. Kotré, on the other hand, wanted to stick to the plan. Weidel threatened to take disciplinary action in this regard. “The framework conditions have been laid down very clearly. Anyone who does not comply with them will have to bear the consequences and this will lead to expulsion from the party,” he said.
Weidel left it open who Kotré hopes to meet in Sochi. “We are waiting for the results,” he said simply. Weidel emphasized that the travel permit had been approved by the external working group responsible for the parliamentary group. “As a council member, it was very difficult to come back.”
Weidel continued that there was great dissatisfaction with travel plans within the group. “There was great dissatisfaction because the trip made no sense at all.” He understands “the driving force of the trip was to keep all channels of conversation open.” “There will only be peace in Europe with Russia and not against Russia,” Weidel said. But whether the Sochi talks are the right channel, “I leave it open.”
Party and parliamentary group leaders also indicated that parliamentary group leaders should be involved in approving such trips in the future. “How we organize our journey forward will definitely be a topic at the next parliamentary group executive committee meeting and at the group meeting that will take place in February. Because we cannot continue like this, we cannot afford it,” Weidel said. The process needs to be “structured differently”.
AFP/ceb
