Merkel accuses AfD of disregarding humanity and violating the constitution

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has strongly criticized the Alternative for Germany (AfD), accusing the party of “disregarding humanity.”

In an interview with ZDF, the CDU politician stated that the AfD, which was founded during the Eurozone crisis, initially faded from public view but established a connection with the “Pegida” (“Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West”) movement in the autumn of 2014.

Acknowledging that there is dissatisfaction and a sense of lost potential for further development in some rural areas, Merkel said, “If there is something to criticize, I must reiterate that this is no reason to vote for a party that disregards human dignity.”

Merkel argued that the AfD divides people into “elites and the people” and defines who “belongs to the people.” She asserted, “This is contrary to the Constitution. The Constitution states that all power emanates from the people, and the people consist of all German citizens.”

Furthermore, the former chancellor complained that on social media, those who spread the most radical messages often receive the most attention. “For this reason, I think it is very important that we discuss how facts and evidence can be distinguished from emotions, and that digital media must also be regulated,” she said.

Merkel noted that populist movements are seen not only in the new federal states but also in the old ones, adding that they rise where social problems exist. The former chancellor emphasized that this is also happening in France and many other European countries, while in the US, it is seen in “completely different forms.”