Le Pen and Weidel pitch a weaker EU, with the AfD proposing bigger changes
Marine Le Pen and Alice Weidel want to recast the EU as an alliance of sovereign states with weaker central institutions; neither party now advocates leaving the bloc. Both oppose continued financial support for Ukraine, but the AfD goes further on institutional reform, proposing that the European Parliament be made up of delegates appointed by national parliaments rather than directly elected.
Bottom line — The AfD’s plan would end direct elections to the European Parliament; Le Pen wants France’s net EU contribution capped at €5 billion a year.
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Euronews reports that both leaders oppose common EU debt and want to cut their countries’ contributions to the bloc’s budget.
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Le Pen proposes harmonising EU taxes on tobacco, alcohol and large companies; the AfD opposes transferring fiscal powers to EU institutions, according to Euronews.
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On energy, Le Pen backs an EU carbon border tax and linking national EU-budget contributions to emissions; the AfD wants Germany free to choose its energy mix, Euronews reports.
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Euronews says Le Pen wants to give the European Commission fewer powers, while the AfD also questions the European Parliament’s role.
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The AfD paper proposes German opt-outs in areas including free movement, defence, taxation, social policy and migration, according to Euronews.
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Euronews reports that the AfD identifies the 2029 European elections as a potential turning point for its EU reform plans.