The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) called for the country to leave the euro and the dissolution of the European Parliament in its European election manifesto on Sunday. But party delegates decided to water down a proposal calling for Berlin to exit the European Union by 2024.
Hardliners at the convention in the eastern state of Saxony had pushed to include language calling for Berlin to leave the EU within the next five years if the bloc failed to enact reforms, a stance opposed by party leaders Alexander Gauland and Jörg Meuthen.
The final version of the manifesto passed on Sunday evening retained the threat of a “Dexit,” but jettisoned any concrete timeframe.
While granting that the EU was “sick in the head and limbs,” Gauland said that the party would need to consider the consequences of Germany’s exit.
“Whoever toys with the idea of a Dexit, also needs to ask themsleves if this not a utopia and should we be more realistic,” he said.
The party also slammed the “751 privileged members” of the current European legislature in their election manifesto, which is set to guide their campaign to join the body.
“We see nation-states as having the exclusive competence to make laws,” the party said.