Siegbert Droese, February 9, 2026, Digital Euro and Inflation

EU Parliament, Strasbourg, P10 CRE-REV(2026)02-09(1-0107/0115-0000). 

Frau President. Frau President Lagarde. Honored colleagues. 

We debate today the year’s report of the European Central Bank. This report shows primarily one thing: A central bank which is ever further removed from its actual mandate. The monetary policy of the last years has led to noticeable inflation. Millions of citizens, savers, pensioners daily lose purchasing power. Instead of clearly reappraising these failures, the ECB already plans the next profound intervention – the digital euro. 

The digital euro was sold to us all as a harmless modernization project. In truth, it is a political project which deeply intervenes into the citizens’ financial freedom. The digital euro solves no real problem, nevertheless creates numerous new risks. It is a great experiment. A digital euro creates the very concrete danger of step by step driving out cash. It makes possible the state tracking of payments, and opens the long-term possibility of taking influence in how and for what citizens may use their money. Who believes this instrument would never be politically mis-used ignores the experience of history. 

Yes, President Lagarde, you seek to pacify us today, in which you announce the third series of euro banknotes. Yet: The Alternative für Deutschland, the ESN delegation, demand a clear return of the ECB to price stability, transparency, and adherence to mandate. No digital euro without unlimited preservation of cash, no further power increase for an institution without democratic control. Stable money and freedom go together. Both today are on the daily order, both today are in play. 

[…] Herr colleague, many thanks for your speech. You speak of the ECB’s duty: Currency stability, price stability. The ECB president today here admitted in parliament there supposedly had been in the past only 10.8 percent inflation. Now the inflation is again at a normal level. The question to you: Do you believe that the ECB heads, Frau Lagarde is here present, that the ECB heads realistically estimate the social consequences of inflation? 

 

[trans: tem]

Siegbert Droese, May 21, 2025, Nord Stream and Trump

EU Parliament, Brussels, P10 CRE-REV(2025)05-21(1-0286-0000). 

Herr President. Esteemed colleagues. My dear elders in the gallery. 

The total de-coupling from the Russian oil and gas market truly presents the height of nonsense. The consequences can be observed in my Heimat Germany: Years-long recession, businesses fleeing to foreign countries, and everyday there are mass lay-offs of skilled workers. Just today the economic experts reported of a further worsening of Germany’s economic situation. If one speaks with businessmen, without exception reference is made to high energy costs. Prior to the Nord Stream 2 explosion, Germany had competitive energy prices. The Commission’s present plans are willful nonsense. Still more: The Commission lies to the people: Neither are the sanctions effective against Russia, nor were the Russians unreliable trading partners before the Commission decided on Europe’s economic suicide. There where trade is managed for mutual advantage – that was once Germany’s strength – is as a rule no shooting at one another. I commend Donald Trump’s wise policy of interests. Donald Trump is even considering, in common with the Russians, to repair and operate Nord Stream 2. Bravo! Nord Stream 2 as a peace project – a beautiful concept for the new Europe. 

 

[trans: tem]

Siegbert Droese, March 6, 2019, EU

Siegbert Droese

EU

AfD Kompakt, March 6, 2019

[Siegbert Droese is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the eastern German state of Saxony. He is a hotel and restaurant entrepreneur. He here criticizes recent remarks by Manfred Weber, the CSU politician from Bavaria who is expected to become the new president of the European Commission following the European parliamentary elections scheduled for this coming May. Weber has threatened the expulsion of the Fidesz party of Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban from the EVP, the European Peoples Party, the center-right party of the European Parliament of which the CSU and Fidesz are members.]

Is this the new style of the EU? Is this Europe’s new start, proclaimed by Macron? The tone in the EU becomes ever more course; between Brussels and Warsaw, between Weber and Orban, between Salvini and Macron. So who is still surprised by Brexit?

The EU must become a world power, continually affirming a common European foreign policy and common values. And yet some of the leading officials of the EU cannot speak to one another like reasonable men! Hungary is no rogue state, no Iran or North Korea which supposedly must be disciplined. Weber’s ultimatum is an unforced error, and not least for the EVP which will obviously require every vote after the European elections to assist its lead candidates to power.

Hungary is not obliged to permit, in Hungary, American universities which confer U.S. diplomas and which on a daily basis make propaganda evidently for the overthrow of Orban. It happens that a Bavarian politician, who otherwise vehemently defends federalism in German education policy, wants to make prescriptions for other countries’ colleges and universities.

In the EU’s entire push against Hungary, there is no thought of aim or variety. In tone, Weber has played himself false and he has damaged the EU. Even before he is in office, Weber has thereby now disqualified himself from the Brussels post after which he is striving.

[Translated by Todd Martin]