Tino Chrupalla, the leader of the AfD party, has publicly criticized Jordan Bardella, the chairman of the French far-right Rassemblement National. Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” Chrupalla told Bardella that instead of making critical comments about Friedrich Merz, the CDU politician, Bardella should first focus on trying to become president.
The criticism follows an instance reported in the newspaper FAZ, where Bardella distanced himself from the AfD and mentioned a friend of CDU Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Despite this distancing, Chrupalla pointed out many commonalities between the CDU’s actions and the RN’s platform. He argued that the fact the Rassemblement National is framed as far-right in France is not unusual, stating that such a label is therefore “no difference”.
Generally, Chrupalla characterized foreign political interference-interventions from other nations into German politics-as highly problematic. This critique extended beyond Bardella to include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Fratelli d’Italia party. He asserted that doing such things was unacceptable. He also pointed out a perceived lack of necessary knowledge or understanding, not only among the RN but also among Meloni’s team.
Chrupalla used the opportunity to underscore the AfD’s deep political roots, mentioning that the party maintains strong connections in both Italy and France, including ties with the Rassemblement National. Furthermore, he noted that the AfD has an established group in Brussels and fields a highly effective working relationship there, stating that the party’s goals and platform are transparently known to everyone.
