Germany has dealt ‘death blow to the euro’ – AfD leader
Berlin’s move to overhaul its national debt rules in order to boost military spending has jeopardized the economic stability of the euro area, according to Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Her comments came shortly after the federal legislature approved the measure.
On Tuesday, the Bundestag backed an initiative allowing the federal government to unlock a record level of state borrowing for defense and infrastructure. The fiscal package was approved by 513 legislators, while 207 voted against it.
“This is a death blow for the euro, which in the coming years – and it is already beginning to do so – will devalue significantly,” Weidel told journalists after the “historic” vote, emphasizing that German lawmakers had approved “gigantic debt.”
The reform, which amends the nation’s constitutionally enshrined fiscal rules, will hit the country’s future generations the hardest, according to AfD’s co-leader, who also warned that “what is being done here is the final destruction of Germany’s financial stability.”
“We will lose our AAA rating, our top credit rating,” Weidel warned.
The world’s major credit agencies currently rank Germany’s long-term sovereign debt AAA, entailing the lowest expectation of risk.
The reform package approved by the lower chamber implies the removal of federal fiscal restrictions in order to increase the special fund for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces.
If adopted, the amendments will allow spending exceeding 1% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to be effectively exempt from the nation’s “debt brake” that was added to the constitution in 2009. The current rules normally limit federal budget deficits to no more than 0.35% of GDP.
In addition, the proposed reform stipulates the creation of a debt-financed and brake-exempted fund of €500 billion ($548 billion) earmarked for infrastructure and climate investments, with one-fifth of that funding to be committed to fighting climate change.
The reform package also needs to be approved by the Bundesrat, a body representing the country’s states, on Friday to become enshrined in Germany’s constitution.
Polish presidential candidate defaces LGBTQ exhibition
A Polish presidential candidate has vandalized an LGBTQ exhibition by spray-painting slogans opposing “gay propaganda,” according to local media.
Grzegorz Braun, who is a member of the European Parliament, arrived on the southern city of Opole’s main square on Tuesday with black paint and sprayed “Stop pervert propaganda” across panels depicting the activities of local LGBTQ groups, videos reposted by the politician's official X account show.
The exhibit was part of a campaign titled ‘There’s more of us! Provoke equality with us’ and featured LGBTQ-themed content, including photos from Opole’s pride marches along with personal accounts from regional gay residents.
Police officers at the scene documented the incident without intervening and informed Braun of the potential legal consequences of property damage. The organizers of the display from the local Teczowe Opole (‘Rainbow Opole’) association are reportedly considering legal action against the politician and may seek compensation for vandalism.
Braun is known for his far-right views, opposing Poland’s integration with the EU, feminism, and LGBTQ propaganda.
The lawmaker also condemned Poland’s alignment with the administration of former US President Joe Biden in sending aid to Ukraine. Last year, he criticized then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s support for Kiev, stating: “Blinken, go home as soon as possible. Get lost! We don’t want you here. We don’t want Polish people paying and dying for your wars.”
Braun was recently barred from the European Parliament for six months after disrupting a minute of silence in January for the victims of the Holocaust, Polish media reported.
The lawmaker reportedly shouted several times: “Pray for the victims of the Jewish genocide in Gaza.” The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, ordered Braun to be excluded from the session and escorted out of the chamber by guards.
“Madam President is punishing me for asking for prayers for the victims of the Jewish genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” Braun said in a video.
Braun is running in Poland’s upcoming presidential election, scheduled for May 18. Recent opinion polls, however, suggest his support is less than 2%.
Good! Europe doesn't need another antisemite president.
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