Internal divisions are fracturing the AfD parliamentary group as they grapple with a stance on the controversial EU-Mercosur trade agreement. A vote on two conflicting motions regarding the deal is scheduled for Tuesday, according to sources within the party confirmed to POLITICO.
The disagreement highlights a deeper ideological rift within the AfD, centering on the prioritization of economic opportunity versus concerns about agricultural standards and potential competition. Initially, a rejection of the agreement was slated for consideration in the previous parliamentary group meeting, but internal opposition forced a reconsideration and the presentation of alternative proposals.
One motion, originating from the agricultural working group, vehemently advocates for rejection, demanding an “immediate parliamentary initiative” to formally oppose the agreement within the Bundestag. The accompanying documentation argues that the deal presents an unacceptable imbalance, permitting South American producers to employ pesticides, hormone treatments and environmental practices prohibited within Germany and the EU, while simultaneously opening the European market to these products. This, the group contends, constitutes an unfair and unsustainable competitive landscape.
Conversely, a motion put forward by the AfD’s economic policy spokesman, Leif-Erik Holm, proposes a strikingly different approach: actively avoiding any parliamentary initiative concerning the Mercosur agreement altogether. Holm’s reasoning pivots on asserting potential economic benefits across multiple policy areas – economics, finance, social affairs, foreign policy and even agriculture – arguing that outright rejection would be detrimental. He suggests that inaction, framed as being “in the interest of the German economy and millions of entrepreneurs, employees, taxpayers, consumers and the majority of AfD voters” is the more prudent course.
The rationale presented in Holm’s motion underscores a deliberate political calculation. It highlights the consistent polling data emphasizing economic concerns – alongside immigration and domestic security – as the paramount issues for German citizens. Recognizing the heightened media scrutiny currently directed towards the AfD’s economic policies, the document explicitly urges the parliamentary group to refrain from introducing a resolution opposing the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, a move calculated to mitigate potential political fallout and capitalize on voter anxieties surrounding economic stability and prosperity. This internal debate throws into question the party’s ability to present a unified front on a politically sensitive and economically significant trade relationship.