Kay Gottschalk, September 10, 2019, Negative Interest Rates

Kay Gottschalk

Negative Interest Rates

AfD Kompakt, September 10, 2019

[Kay Gottschalk is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the western German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. A former member of the SPD, he is an insurance manager, an Odd Fellow and AfD spokesman for finance policy in the Bundestag.]

The AfD naturally wishes to defend as much as possible the German saver against negative interest rates. We however reject the push by Bavarian Minsterpräsident Söder for a legal ban on minus rates for the saver. In a free market economy, it is plainly possible for the banks to pass on negative interest rates to their customers. We reject a planned economy with its continuing interventions. Herr Söder with this proposal wishes only to hush up the natural consequences of the euro – bad finance policy as well as the failure of the euro.

Nevertheless, I cannot understand the lamentations of the German banks. The chief of the Bafin [Federal Financial Supervisory Authority] Felix Hufeld is fully right in this respect, the banking industry must urgently alter its scarcely profitable business model. Here for years has digitalization slumbered and far too little has been invested in future technologies. The connection as in other countries like Japan and the USA has clearly been missed. Where in this country are found the start-ups as in other countries? Nothing withstanding, it is still clear that at the root of the matter lies the government’s failures, the failed euro policy and the absolutely false EZB policy. That ought not be forgotten in regards all the criticism of the banks.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

Alexander Gauland, September 4, 2019, Immigration

Alexander Gauland

Immigration

AfD Kompakt, September 4, 2019

[Alexander Gauland is a national chairman of the Alternative für Deutschland as well as a chairman of the AfD delegation in the German Bundestag.]

The Greek government sends out a fatal signal by now bringing the migrants also to the mainland. It indicates to all those desiring to migrate that it again evidently pays to set out on the way with the goal of northwest Europe – particularly Germany. It now becomes evident that the much affirmed EU-Turkey deal was from the beginning a flawed construction and a pure dud of the Merkel government. After billions of tax money have been poured out to Turkey, now come the temporarily returned migrants once again to Europe.

Instead of relying on unsecured deals, the EU requires finally an authentic defense of the border in the Mediterranean as per the Australian model. Boats with migrants before entering European waters must be stopped and led back to the port of departure. That pertains to the Aegean as well as to the Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy. As long as the EU continues to renounce the defense of the external borders, so must the German policy urgently take heed of the security of the German border.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

Andreas Kalbitz, September 4, 2019, Election in Brandenburg

Andreas Kalbitz

AfD in Brandenburg

AfD Kompakt, September 4, 2019

[Andreas Kalbitz is the Alternative für Deutschland chairman in the eastern German state of Brandenburg as well as chairman of the AfD delegation in the Brandenburg legislature. He is an army paratroop veteran. He here comments on the results of the September 1 elections.]

I am very happy with the strong delegation which can serve with political expertise and competence in the different thematic areas. The variety of occupational backgrounds of the future members of the legislature reflects what is already reflected in the election results: The AfD is long since a people’s party. A healthy mix of new and experienced members, men and women, academics, tradesmen [Arbeitern] and white-collar workers [Angestellten], represents Brandenburg society in its entire breadth.

The AfD advances with a more than doubled delegation size to the strongest opposition power and as the opposition will drive before it the state government. Who would still form this union of failures – it is now certain that there will be no “carry on” [‘Weiter-so’] for the next five years.The political pulse of our country will now be decisively set with the AfD, because the political substance of the old parties, the principal losers in the state elections, is at an end. The AfD is the only middle-class [bürgerliche] opposition in the Potsdam legislature.

[Translated by Todd Martin]