European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slams far-right Alternative for Germany
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has attacked the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
In a speech in Berlin, von der Leyen said the AfD was a "party of hate and division" that had no place in the European Parliament.
She said the party's policies were "based on fear and ignorance" and that its leaders were "playing with fire" by stoking tensions in German society.
Von der Leyen's speech comes ahead of the European Parliament elections on 26 May. The AfD is expected to perform well in the elections, and von der Leyen's speech is seen as an attempt to shore up support for her own party, the European People's Party (EPP).
The EPP is the largest political group in the European Parliament, but it is facing a challenge from the far-right in this year's elections. Von der Leyen's speech is a clear sign that the EPP is taking the threat from the far-right seriously.
The AfD has been accused of racism and xenophobia. Its leader, Alexander Gauland, has said that Germans are a "superior race" and that Islam is "not compatible with our constitution." The party has also been criticized for its close ties to Russia.
Von der Leyen's speech was met with mixed reactions. Some praised her for speaking out against the far-right, while others accused her of fear-mongering.
Regardless of the reaction, von der Leyen's speech is a clear indication that the far-right is a growing threat in Europe. The EPP and other mainstream parties will need to find a way to counter this threat if they want to maintain their hold on power in the European Parliament.
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