At a later press conference, AfD's leader made a strong message about Germany's current condition. “Our country, Germany, has become weak. With weak leadership. With a weak economical policy. Angela Merkel She ruined our country, she said.
She besides called for a tightening of migration policy and talked about "uncontrollable migration", which is the origin of "imported crime" and the increase in cases of violations of the law among minors. “People endure from a advanced level of abroad crime — that is proven,” she said. “ Hungary is simply a bastion against illegal migration,” she added. On this she did not end both her praise towards the country she visited and his prime minister and her criticism of Germany.
In addition, the leader of the utmost German right blamed the Green organization and erstwhile Chancellor Angela Merkel for a failed energy policy and stressed: "The ellipse of energy policy was destroyed, Germany has the highest taxes and fees among industrialised countries. AfD promises to reduce taxes, abolish the carbon taxation and reconstruct Germany's economical competitiveness.
Peany Weidel in honor of Orban
— Germany besides has the highest taxes of all industrialised countries. That is why it is so crucial for us to reconstruct order. Mr. Orban, you are a symbol of reason, sovereignty and independence," she said.
— I want prosperous Germany, which has good relations with its neighbours. This besides includes getting our country back on its feet. No redirected migration policy, no erroneous economical policy — we decided to drastically reduce taxes. You are a peculiar function model for us. We will follow the Hungarian path. We will reconstruct order in our country, she said.
Weidel besides criticised the European Union. She advocated a comprehensive EU improvement and demanded a drastic simplification in Brussels' powers. — Bureaucracy in Brussels is costly and corrupt. Ursula von der Leyen does not have a mandate, she has not even been elected,” assessed Weidel. According to AfD leader, decisions should be taken in national parliaments. Finally, it called for Europe to be reorganised "from day one" and to end the "ruining economic, taxation and migration policy".
Szilard COSTTICSAK / PAPCandidate for German Chancellor and Co-Chairman of the AfD organization Alice Weidel (L) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a gathering in Budapest, Hungary, 12 February 2025.
Orban on the EU: leading us towards the abyss
Viktor Orban, for his part, saw similarities with AfD's demands, especially with respect to migration policy. “All points of the AfD programme are beneficial for Hungary — especially in terms of migration,” he said at a press conference. At the same time, he stressed the close economical ties between Germany and Hungary and called for greater economical stableness in Europe.
The Hungarian Prime Minister besides criticised the European Union strongly. In his opinion, the EU is on the incorrect path, both in terms of economical and climate policy: "Green policy leads us to a gap. We pay 2 to 3 times as much for energy as our competitors," he said.
He besides accused Brussels of taking decisions against the will of the citizens and further propelling migration. He besides identified sanctions against Russia and advanced spending on Ukraine as harmful to Europe.
In conclusion, Orban explained that only Germany and France can save the EU from the crisis. “A tiny country like Hungary cannot do that. If the EU works, Hungary will act, too, he said. The gathering with Weidel was a sign of closer cooperation and stressed the request for a political change of course in Europe.
The right hand in Europe is increasing stronger
— I think that we should work together to improvement the European Union," Weidel added. This will only be possible if it is dismantled. “Everybody should look for decent work to know what it's like to work and pay taxes. possibly then they'll realize what kind of policy we want.
Over the years, the AfD has stressed its proximity to the right- populist and critical policy of Orban, who has ruled Hungary since 2010. Last year, Weidel said she admired Orban very much, as well as the far right freedom policy of the Austrian organization Herbert Kickl.
The AfD organization is not yet a associate of the right-wing Patriot Parliamentary Group for Europe, which was founded by Orban. However, the fresh increase in right-populist AfD listings in polls may be interesting for the Prime Minister of Hungary, especially as he has been working for years to unify right-wing and far-right forces in Europe.
