The two right-wing parties AfD and the French Rassemblement National (RN) have settled their differences, according to co-AfD leader Alice Weidel. Weidel wrote on Platform them added. The RN party leader Jordan Bardella also took part in the conversation.
The two and a half hour meeting was about the European elections, cooperation in the joint group in the European Parliament and disagreements between both parties, Weidel’s spokesman Daniel Tapp told Reuters. These differences were resolved, he emphasized.
But what sounds so positive from AfD circles sounds completely different across the Rhine. As French media unanimously report, Le Pen and her party have demanded a written assurance from Weidel that the plans for “remigration” that became known in January – a trivializing term for the deportation of millions of people with a migration background – will never be part of the AfD party program.
Le Pen and he wanted to talk to Weidel at a meeting on Tuesday to express to her “our rejection of this measure, which consists of depriving people of their nationality,” RN party leader Jordan Bardella told broadcaster BFMTV on Sunday. “She gave us a number of clarifications,” which she also promised in writing.
According to Bardella, Weidel denied “that it is the position of her political movement to revoke people’s acquired nationality on the grounds that they are of foreign origin.” “They are our allies, at least until proven otherwise, of course,” the RN party leader continued.
After reporting on the controversial conference in Potsdam, the RN initially distanced itself from the AfD. Le Pen, the RN parliamentary group leader in the French National Assembly, had made critical comments about the AfD. The French politician said at the time that she saw herself in clear contradiction to what was said to have been discussed there. “We will have to discuss such important differences together … and see whether these differences … have an impact on our ability to unite in a group or not,” Le Pen also said, referring to the current group community in the European Union Parliament (EP) announced.
“Radio France” quotes an RN MEP saying that the AfD doesn’t understand “why this (the plans for “remigration,” ed.) is playing into the hands of our opponents.” According to the radio station, two factions are now facing each other in the RN. Marine Le Pen’s entourage would no longer like to be associated with the AfD in view of the presidential election in France in 2027.
On the other hand, the RN MEPs fear that their “Identity and Democracy” group will be weakened if the “Lega Nord” in Italy falls in the European elections, as expected. The hoped-for new AfD MEPs could strengthen the group – if the RN and AfD pull together.
The meeting with Le Pen doesn’t seem to have been as positive as Alice Weidel reports.
Note: This article has been updated with statements from RN party leader Jordan Bardella on BFMTV.
Sources: Reuters, “Lopinion.fr” (paid content), “France TV Info”, “Radio France”.
