Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, bolsters her international profile by meeting with Viktor Orban.

Despite being sidelined by leaders of the extreme-left coalition, the AfD's involvement in advancing a parliamentary motion and its growing international connections highlight its rising influence in the political arena.
Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is scheduled to meet with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban following an invitation revealed on Monday.

This meeting indicates a growing acceptance of the AfD on the international stage, which was once marginalized due to its contentious nationalist views.

Orban, recognized for his anti-immigration policies and efforts to restore energy relations with Russia, confirmed that the initiative for this meeting originated from Weidel.

In an interview with Switzerland’s Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Orban noted the AfD’s increasing prominence in German politics, suggesting that the party could secure as much as 20% of the vote in the forthcoming national election on February 23. Traditionally, he has distanced himself from the AfD to preserve ties with Germany's mainstream political factions, who consider the AfD to be politically toxic.

The party is monitored by German security services due to worries regarding its alleged extremist inclinations.

However, recent events, including Donald Trump’s return to the White House—an outcome supported by both Orban and the AfD—seem to have altered the diplomatic landscape.

Weidel’s party aligns with Orban on limiting immigration, especially from Muslim-majority nations, and on re-establishing connections with Russia despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Additionally, the AfD has seen a notable rise in financial support.

The German parliament recently reported that the party received a donation of 2.3 million euros on February 1 from a far-right Austrian politician, which stands as its largest donation to date.

This came on the heels of two separate January donations from German entrepreneurs, amounting to nearly 2.5 million euros, which exceeded previous annual totals in the party’s decade-long history.

Elon Musk, who leads efforts to optimize the U.S. federal government, has also shown support for the AfD.

Musk, the richest person in the world, stated on his social media platform X that “only the AfD can save Germany,” after which he had a one-hour discussion with Weidel.

Currently, the AfD ranks second in polls behind Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc in Germany.

Despite this, the party faces limited chances of joining the government as mainstream parties continue to exclude it from coalition negotiations.

The so-called “firewall” around the AfD weakened last week when a parliamentary motion was approved with the party's backing, marking a historic first in postwar German politics.

This incident sparked nationwide protests and resignations within Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had initiated the motion.

The forthcoming meeting between Weidel and Orban highlights the evolving political environment and the AfD’s increasing influence on the international front, as it aims to garner backing from influential figures and entities to advance its domestic and foreign policy aims.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
USAID Uncovered: American Taxpayer Funds Leveraged to Erode Democracy in Europe Until Trump Put a Stop to It.
JD Vance and Scholz Did Not Come Together at the Munich Security Conference.
EU Official Participates in Discussions in Washington Amid Trade Strains
Qatar Contemplates Reducing French Investments Due to PSG Chief Investigation
Germany's Green Agenda Encounters Ambiguity Before Elections
Trump Did Not Notify Germany's Scholz About His Ukraine Peace Proposal.
Munich Car Attack Escalates Migration Discourse Before German Elections
NATO Allies Split on Trump's Proposal for 5% Defense Spending Increase
European Parliament Advocates for Encrypted Messaging to Ensure Secure Communications
Trump's Defense Spending Goal Creates Division Among NATO Partners
French Prime Minister Bayrou Navigates a Challenging Path Amid Budget Preservation and Immigration Discourse
Steering Through the Updated Hierarchy at the European Commission
Parliamentarian Calls for Preservation of AI Liability Directive
Mark Rutte Calls on NATO Allies to Increase Defence Expenditures
Dresden Marks the 80th Anniversary of the World War II Bombing.
Global Community Pledges to Aid Syria's Political Transition
EU Allocates €200 Billion for AI Investments, Introduces €20 Billion Fund for Gigafactories
EU Recognizes Its Inability to Close the USAID Funding Shortfall Due to Stalled US Aid
Commission President von der Leyen Missing from Notre Dame Reopening Due to Last-Minute Cancellation
EU Officializes Disinformation Code for Online Platforms, Omitting X
EU Fails to Fully Implement Key Cybersecurity Directives
EU Under Fire for Simplification Discussions Regarding Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Shein Encountering Further Information Request from the EU During Ongoing Investigation
European Commission Initiates Investigation into Shein as It Aims at Chinese E-Commerce Regulations
German Officials Respond to U.S. Proposal for Peace Talks with Russia
Senate Approves Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Trump and Putin Engage in Discussions on Ukraine Peace Negotiations Amid Worldwide Responses
Honda and Nissan End Merger Talks
Highlights of New York Fashion Week Celebrate Iconic Comebacks and Rising Stars.
Trump Asserts BRICS 'Is Finished' in Light of Tariff Threats.
Trump's Tariffs Loom Over Major German Trade Exhibition
OpenAI Modifies Its Strategy in Response to Growing AI Competition
CPJ Report Indicates a Record High in Journalists Killed in 2024.
World Leaders Champion Ethical and Inclusive AI Governance at Paris Summit
Chinese Nationals Taken Off Flight at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
How Spain Transformed from High Unemployment to Eurozone Growth Leader
EU Promises Swift Response if New US Tariffs Are Introduced
The European Union Shifts Focus to AI Innovation Amid Global Competition (or at least this is what they claim)
Merz and Scholz Engage in Confrontation Over Migration and Economic Strategies in Pre-Election Debate
Tech Giants Boost Investment in AI Infrastructure Despite Competition
Europe Faces Growing Security Concerns and Trump's New Demands on Ukraine
Justin Bieber Sparks Concern as New Footage Raises Health Fears
European Right-Wing Leaders Celebrate Trump’s Impact on Global Politics
Germany Confronts Political Turmoil Before Sudden Election
Macron's AI Vision Encounters Obstacles in the Global Technology Race.
Reports of Pro-Russian Bots Attempting to Influence German Election Surface
'BACK TO PLASTIC!': Trump to End Bans on Plastic Straws
TikTok Sued Over Alleged Child Deaths Caused by 'Blackout Challenge'
U.S. Ally Claims Trump Has Distinct Credibility to Resolve Ukraine-Russia Dispute
At least ten fatalities confirmed in shooting at a Swedish school, authorities report.
×