Alice
Weidel
German
Presidency of EU Council
German
Bundestag, June 18, 2020, Plenarprotokoll 19/166, pp. 20642-20643
[Alice Weidel is a chairman of the
Alternative für Deutschland delegation in the German Bundestag as well as AfD
chairman in the western German state of Baden-Württemberg.]
Right honorable Herr President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen.
Right honorable Herr President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen.
It
is a pity, Frau Merkel, to again miss an opportunity to tell the citizens the
plain truth concerning the enormous increase in the financial burden which is to
come to our country.
Of
that, is first – occurring at the beginning of German council presidency – the impudent
demand of the EU Commission to permit an increase of more than 40 percent in
the German EU contribution. That alone means around 13 billion more euros per
year. Instead of correspondingly cutting the EU budget following the exit of
Great Britain, the German taxpayer shall step into the breach, ja, even over-compensate.
Second:
The ECB’s pandemic loan purchase program, after just two weeks, was affixed at
the astronomical sum of 1,350 billion euros. The pretext of the Corona crisis
must be made to pay for the almost unlimited, illegal state financing by means
of the monetary printing presses. The guarantor in the final instance is the
German taxpayer who, what’s more, will be expropriated by the zero interest
rate policy. And that without a word from you. I ask myself, Have you really not
heard the warning shot from Karlsruhe? We have. And the AfD delegation will
bring suit.
Third:
The so-called Green Deal; you simply mentioned that Commission President von
der Leyen is juggling with at least 1 trillion euros which she wants to
squander on the green, CO2-neutral pipe dreams. Who will actually pay
for that?
Fourth:
The so-called Reconstruction Funds of 750 billion euros. Germany alone
guarantees at least 135 billion. Again, the Corona crisis serves as pretext to
break the taboo of the mutualization of state debts. Already in Paris, Madrid
and Rome, new expenditure programs are eagerly being planned. The German
citizen, who now works longer, pays higher taxes and has smaller pension and
private assets than the citizens of the countries receiving these transfers,
must in contrast prepare himself for the increased charges.
You
have agreed to all of these liability risks and transfers of billions, Frau
Chancellor, even though we in this country have enough of our own problems to
solve and for which we urgently need our money.
Ulli Nissen (SPD): Always only
thinking of yourself!
We
are no longer a rich country. The infrastructure crumbles. The education system
is crashing. In digitalization matters, we are in deep decline. The social
security system is stuck in the demographic double trap of an aging population
and the immigration of the unqualified into our social system.
Ulli Nissen (SPD): You are the
unqualified!
Then comes the economic damage of the Corona crisis which day by day becomes greater. We today already have over 7 million part-time workers. That is ten times more than at the height of the financial crisis in February 2009.
Ulli Nissen (SPD): Better than unemployment.
Then comes the economic damage of the Corona crisis which day by day becomes greater. We today already have over 7 million part-time workers. That is ten times more than at the height of the financial crisis in February 2009.
Ulli Nissen (SPD): Better than unemployment.
Our
country is threatened by a never before known wave of unemployment and business
bankruptcy. The Mittelstand grows
poor. We will in no way come out of this crisis with debt-financed expenditure
programs. No, just the opposite: By that way, you heighten the crisis even
more!
In
this situation, we do not have billions to give away; we must help ourselves. Completely
end the lockdown and the Corona limitations under the prevention regulations –
thereby will the Mittelstand get back
on its feet.
Second:
Reduce taxes and duties substantially and for the long term so that the
employees and the self-employed again have some air to breathe. And third and
before all: No to new transfers of billions and liability risks by which the
wealth of the German people will be pawned for the euro rescue and a transfer
union. Please act in the interest of this country and its citizens, Frau
Chancellor,
Ulli Nissen (SPD): It is not better,
how you want it!
and
no longer hide yourself behind phrase-mongering loaded with ideology as you
have done here in your speech today. A great pity, this missed opportunity.
Ulli Nissen (SPD): So painful! Herr Gauland fell
asleep at the start of your speech! Super!
[Translated by Todd Martin]
